Keep up good work

By Michael Brooke

LAC Ketan Munsami, an Aircraft Structural Fitter with 33SQN, shows CAF AIRMSHL Geoff Shepherd how to rebuild a slotseal panel from a Boeing 707 during his visit to RAAF Base Richmond.

Photo by LAC Guy Young

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* CAF visited RAAF Base Richmond on August 15, visiting Headquarters Air Lift Group and squadrons on the base. In a parade ground address, CAF told personnel under his leadership, Air Force would focus on operational and governance excellence.

CHIEF of Air Force Air Marshal Geoff Shepherd has urged Air Force personnel to “keep up the good work” to help the Air Force meet the challenges posed by the current high operational tempo.

In his first visit to an operational air base since becoming CAF in early July, Air Marshal Shepherd told the personnel of RAAF Base Richmond that their hard work was helping the Air Force achieve world-class outcomes.

“All of you here at RAAF Richmond, which is our most active base, know only too well of the very high operational tempo that may not slacken for some time to come,” he said.

CAF told the personnel of RAAF Richmond in a parade-ground address on August 15 that under his leadership the Air Force would be focused on achieving operational and governance excellence.

Air Marshal Shepherd said one of the challenges ahead was for “Air Force personnel to continue to strive to be the best that we can be, with what resources and equipment we have, here and now.“

He said the Air Force would only be able to meet its challenges through its personnel “working together with the shared values of the Air Force”.

Air Marshal Shepherd praised the efforts of the personnel serving at RAAF Base Richmond, which houses HQ Air Lift Group (ALG) and associated units such as Numbers 33, 36, 37 and 285 Squadrons.

Air Marshal Shepherd said that it has been the ability of ALG to respond quickly to the Government’s urgent requirements that has allowed the Air Force to achieve world-class outcomes.

ALG’s assets include C-130H and C-130J transport aircraft as well as B707 tankers, providing vital air logistics support for ADF deployments during peace-keeping missions and disaster relief operations around the globe.

“Anyone just has to look at the world-class outcomes we are delivering for the Government to see that RAAF Base Richmond is very much at the frontline of our fine reputation, he said.

Air Marshal Shepherd said although the work he does as CAF in Canberra was very important, it was equally important that he visited bases and training establishments so that he could listen to issues and encourage members to do what they can to solve them.

During his visit to RAAF Richmond, Air Marshal Shepherd talked with many personnel on a wide range of issues, including his aim that all Air Force personnel “join together in pursuit of exciting, enjoyable professionalism”.

CAF met with logistics staff at RAAF Richmond and reminded them of the importance of their jobs.

“This is the ‘age of accountability’ that we all work in and therefore you should not underestimate the value of your service to the Air Force, because we are under tremendous pressure to be accountable for the resources we get from the Government,” he said.

Air Marshal Shepherd also visited hangars, messes and simulator trainer facilities where he discussed issues such as morale, training and work place professionalism with Air Force personnel of all ranks.

Corporal Nicholas Kozlowski, an avionics engineer at No. 36 Squadron Night Vision Goggle Workshop, told CAF how his team had worked hard to modify the lens of more than 32 pairs of NVS-9s to make them more comfortable for C-130 crews.

At No. 37 Squadron, Leading Aircraftman Stephen Fisher, 21, told CAF how he and his colleagues are working around the clock to complete maintenance on C-130J aircraft.

At No. 33 Squadron, CAF watched a dozen trainees from 707 tanker crews conduct an aircraft evacuation exercise using the inflatable escape slide, and chatted with them about the training program and their expectations on operational deployment.

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