'A' is for air power Published May 27, 2008 By Maj. Eric Upton 379th Expeditionary Comptroller Squadron SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) -- I am about to culminate my one-year tour in Southwest Asia. It was an outstanding year! I want to share with you what I believe to be one of the most significant aspects of our service as Airmen. The significance of my tour is not marked by a piece of cloth on my chest or even the work I did while I was here, but by the relationships I forged with fellow Airmen in a time of war and the indelible mark these relationships left in my heart. You see, it's relationships that enrich an individual achievement, bring a team victory and give life meaning. A hallmark of our relationships as Airmen is that we take care of one another. From fellow commanders leaning forward offering their support to each other and Airmen cooperating in their daily efforts, to friends and family back home sending care packages or words of encouragement and love, I've seen what generates air power: wingmen! Let me give you an example of this relationship-making. We bring more than 3,500 active-duty, Guard, and Reserve Airmen together and swap out an entire wing over a 30-day period. We do this all the while executing the air tasking order, keeping food on our plates, running chapel services, constructing and occupying new facilities, moving cargo north, guarding the perimeter, transshipping blood units, delivering communications theater wide, contracting and paying for every single requirement. We do a remarkable job taking care of each other and never give those feats a second thought. How is this possible? All of the above accomplishments (and more) are made through teamwork, enthusiasm, selflessness and trust. And when you test an Airman, you'll get an "A" for air power every time. We can bring sword or shield at a moment's notice. It's truly impressive. And it's marked by our individual nature coupled with the organized and disciplined manner with which we carry out our daily missions. "We can" is the attitude of the day around here. Airmen are self-reliant, expected to figure it out. Here, Airmen participate in morale teams and community service and have a sense of urgency in getting materials and services delivered to form the nucleus of sortie generation. They do it knowing other Airmen are counting on them. Wingmen at each echelon -- Airmen, noncommissioned officers, senior NCOs, officers and civilians -- mentor through action, encouragement and good, old-fashioned hard work. We've got a big job to do, and we know no one else can do it. Our friends and family back home are counting on us. The support we receive through their gifts, prayers and words, remind us that we've got to keep 'em flying, get the bombs on target and endure a grueling, sustained effort to achieve victory. My experience here over the past year taught me a lot, but I will reflect most often on the mark Airmen here and those back home make every day. Seeing Airmen lending helping hands to make work manageable, exuding positive attitudes, putting others first, and relying on each other to get the job done right makes my heart happy. We are friends, family and fellow fighters. Wingmen make me so proud, I sing our Air Force song as loudly and as proudly as I can each chance I get! I am absolutely convinced as long as there are wingmen, there will be Airmen, and as long as there are Airmen, there will be the United States of America. Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link) View the comments/letters page