Fantini says farewell, urges Airmen to continue to 'Train and Inspire'

  • Published
  • By George Woodward
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  With the 82nd Training change of command just over the horizon on Sept. 12, Brig. Gen. Michael A. Fantini is eager to take on the challenges of his new command in Afghanistan even as he looks back fondly on his time at Sheppard.

"It's always tough to relinquish command because you become so personally invested in the unit, its people and its success. The wing becomes part of your family, and that has been especially true here at Sheppard," he said. "But at the same time, you always look forward to the next hill, the next challenge. So I'm excited to get in country and work with our deployed Airmen."

Fantini arrived at Sheppard in April 2012, just weeks before the 2012 Consolidated Unit Inspection in May, during which the wing received an overall Excellent rating.

"The reality is that by the time I came on board there wasn't much I could do - the wing had spent the last year preparing. I just kind of put the bow on the package and handed it to the inspectors."

The general said the wing's performance was a great first impression and set the tone for the rest of his command tour.

"The whole wing just did an awesome job - 4 of the 5 groups and 11 of the 17 squadrons were rated Excellent and we had 7 Outstanding ratings. It was pretty clear that I was taking command of a wing that knew its mission and executed it very well, every day," he said.

That experience, in a way, also set the stage for the major change in focus Fantini's leadership team brought to the wing in the wake of a strategic planning meeting in August of 2012.

"The wing had the core mission - technical training - down cold," he said. "There are always things you can improve of course, but we've been training Airmen here for more than 70 years. We know our business.

"But with everything going on in the Air Force and the country at the time, we recognized that there was another aspect of Airmen development we needed to focus on beyond teaching them technical skills. We needed to teach them not only how to do their job, but what it really means to be an Airman and why it matters. We needed to inspire them."

And so the wing's new mission statement - Train and Inspire Airmen - was born.

"I think those four words hold tremendous power. If we really embrace them, if we really own them, they will guide everything we do and every decision we make," he said. "It doesn't matter whether you're a colonel considering policies that will affect a whole group or an MTL having a one-on-one with an Airman. Those four words, 'Train and Inspire Airmen,' remind us that we're not just here to teach tasks but to inspire these young men and women to become full-up, committed Airmen."

To emphasize that "Train and Inspire Airmen" is more than a collection of four words, the general highlighted efforts that directly resulted from the new mission statement, including an increased focus on supporting Military Training Leaders.

"One of the most important things we've done is to pay more attention to MTL development and MTL continuation training. Along with our instructors, the MTLs are really the key to success if we're going to inspire our young Airmen. The MTLs work with them every day and are the ones who serve as the model of what an Airman should be," Fantini said.

Recognizing that MTLs receive just a brief two weeks of formal training before becoming responsible for the daily oversight of 50 to 100 Airmen on any given day, the general and other base leaders instituted a formal continuation training program for the wing's MTL cadre.

"Continuation training is a familiar concept in the flying world and other parts of the Air Force - you have a formal program to ensure skills are current and sharp," Fantini said. "We ask an awful lot of these young NCOs who serve as MTLs and we owe it to them to give them the training and support they need."

Though not entirely by intent, the new focus on "Inspire" came at an opportune time to help guide the wing through some important changes and challenging times. The ensuing months brought a new Chief of Staff, an increased focus on our environment, the prosecutions at Basic Military Training, budget cuts and personnel challenges.

"It has been an interesting year. But you know, there are always challenges, and there always will be," Fantini said. "The question is, how do you deal with it? Do you crawl under your desk and hope things get better or do you do what Airmen have always done - grab on, find solutions and get the mission done?"

Fantini said that one of the keys to future success is environment - establishing a professional, positive work space where everyone can thrive.

"Sometimes I think we get so focused on a particular issue that we forget that it's all part of a bigger picture. Whether we're talking about sexual assault, underage drinking, unprofessional relationships or just how to get the job done with fewer resources, it all really comes down to environment," Fantini said.

"When every Airman - and I mean officer, enlisted, civilian and contractor - feels empowered, respected and valued, there is no problem we can't solve. That's all about creating the right environment, where we set high expectations, hold people accountable and give them the freedom and authority to execute the mission," he said.

Asked what he will miss most about Sheppard, the general reverted to a familiar theme.

"For Anne and me, the Air Force has always been about Mission, People and Family. That's why we stayed, and that's what we'll remember about Sheppard," he said.
"We have two great missions here that really have a huge impact on the Air Force and the world. The 82nd's tech training mission supports every airframe and every base in the Air Force and delivers almost half of all Air Force tech training graduates. That's something to be proud of. And the 80th's international pilot training mission is critical to building the partnerships that are so important to winning the conflicts of the coming century, so it's been great to be part of these missions.

"As for people, our permanent party team is just outstanding. They really do hold the future in their hands every day and I couldn't think of anyone I'd rather trust that future to. And working with our newest Airmen has been great and it reassures me that the future of the Air Force is in good hands.

"Family. Well, I've never been in a place where the Air Force and the local community are so close. I've always felt like part of the family around fellow Airmen; here, I feel like part of the family no matter where I am, on or off base, and I'm grateful for that kind of support and friendship."

Fantini will remain in the local area while completing training and other preparations before taking his new assignment as Commander, Kandahar Airfield (NATO) and the 451st Air Expeditionary Wing, Kandahar, Afghanistan.