An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : News
JBSA News
NEWS | July 16, 2011

'Basics Training' - Core Values key to 37th TRW commander

By Mike Joseph 502nd Air Base Wing OL-A Public Affairs

Back to basics.

That's the foundation the new 37th Training Wing commander sees as the core building block in his vision statement for the wing - the training standard of excellence.

It's an approach that focuses on the Air Force core values, and he believes it's important in training to demonstrate "excellence in all we do."

Stressing the core values will emphasize an environment of compliance, professionalism and safety.

"When I say, 'focus on back to basics,' it's to reinforce a culture that's predicated on our core values," said Col. Eric Axelbank, who took command of the 37th TRW in early June.
 
"The basics are real easy to me - just follow the Air Force core values. If you focus on those, then you're going to be successful (in the Air Force).

"Trying to build a culture of compliance, professionalism and core values is really important because what we do on daily basis defines who we are as individuals. It defines our character and it defines who we are as an Air Force."

The commander said core values bind Airmen together, and each Airman is the bearer for the training standard of excellence.

"By virtue of your actions, you define the Air Force," Axelbank said. "In the training environment, the trainees have not seen the Air Force. It's new to them. What they see is the Air Force, and it's really important to set that standard (of excellence)."

The first five weeks have altered his perception of Lackland. He said the view from outside the wing is the awe-inspiring magic of graduation every week.

From the inside, it's an appreciation of what it takes for that magic to occur.

"I thought I knew Lackland, but I didn't know Lackland," Axelbank said. "There are some amazing people who make (graduation) happen. It's a machine every single week, and they've been doing this for years.

"You don't really realize or appreciate it until you get inside, (and see) all of these amazing leaders and people who are so dedicated. It's an absolute honor to be their commander. I could not think of a better job."

Along with the job comes challenges, such as managing budgets in a constrained fiscal environment while maintaining a compliant and safe work place.

"We've got to find creative, innovative ways," Axelbank said. "People are very busy and working hard.

"Our military training instructors in BMT are working over 14 hours a day, sometimes seven days a week for eight or nine weeks straight. We have to make sure we have enough resources to take care of those instructors. The bottom line is to produce quality training in a safe manner."

He said the relationship between the 37th TRW and the 502nd Air Base Wing, 559th Medical Group, the 802nd Mission Support Group, the chaplain corps and the legal office makes it easier to accomplish the training mission.

"They're fantastic partners," Axelbank said. "There is such a seamless transition line (in Joint Base San Antonio). They're right there, and it's a great working relationship."

Reflecting on his new assignment, Axelbank repeated from the change of command ceremony the lines in a song made famous when the Berlin Wall came down.

"There's no other place I'd rather be than right here, right now."