374 AW Commander offers straight talk on Eagle 810

  • Published
  • By Capt. Raymond Geoffroy
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  In a continuing effort to keep Yokota Air Base up to date on the latest regarding the Air Force's fiscal challenges, Col. Mark August, 374th Airlift Wing commander, took to the airwaves of the American Forces Network's Eagle 810 radio station here, March 15, 2013.

During a live in-studio radio interview, the commander updated base residents on the wing's budget and addressed concerns from the Yokota community.

The budget sequester will have trickle down effects at Yokota, which means that leaders have had to start making tough decisions, said August.

"There are lots of impacts of sequestration here at Yokota. First and foremost, our U.S. government employees--our civilian employees who do so many things for us--are taking a 20 percent pay cut. They're going to be working one less day a week and two less days per pay period," said August.

Other impacts have occurred in the base flying program, he added.

"We have our flying hours cut by 25 percent," August said. "That's a significant event for our operations and maintenance groups."

However, the commander explained that the biggest challenge facing Yokota will be cuts in the wing's budget, which has been reduced by 51 percent.

Fortunately, the effects of these local impacts, while difficult, are being mitigated thanks to engaged leaders working across Yokota to make tough decisions and take care of their people, August added.

"We have an asymmetric advantage in terms of leadership. We have an incredible professional team of folks, and we have outstanding leaders who have been engaged since day one," the commander said. "The good news is that there won't be an enormous number of changes here for Team Yokota. Most of the changes will be behind the scenes."

The commander said that the most notable changes will be a reduction in unit TDYs, fewer available professional developmental education class slots and a concerted base effort to conserve energy.

Savings made in utilities will help ensure critical maintenance continues on facilities that keep Yokota running smoothly, August said.

"Take for example our boiler plants here that provide heat and hot water. We have about $700,000 of maintenance and repairs that needs to be done on them. If we don't make the savings in utilities, then we have to defer this maintenance," August explained. "I'll tell you what, 'no heat/no cool' will have a very different meaning next fall if the boiler plants don't light up."

Among the budget related concerns which the commander discussed was heath care service at Yokota.

"It is something that's on everyone's minds," said August. "Health care here at Yokota is going to be unaffected. It's paid for completely differently than the base infrastructure. The hospital and urgent care center are going to be open. There's going to be no changes in medical service at all for our people here at Team Yokota."

August also calmed anxiety over possible changes to hours at Yokota's Child Development Centers.

"When I talk about preserving combat capability and maintaining our mission-critical facilities, the CDC is mission critical on my list. We've done a lot of behind-the-scenes maneuvering to make sure that no one's child care is affected," August explained. "Thanks to some great leadership from the folks in the Force Support Squadron, we've got it covered."

Another item of discussion was the recent decision by Yokota's high school and middle school to join in the base's no heat/no cool energy conservation initiative.

"When we made the decision to go to no heat/no cool, we looked at the weather and the climatology to get an idea for what it would look like. But there are also facilities that are exempt," said August. "We had the capability to keep the heat on for the schools, and we are keeping it on for the elementary school, but due to our close partnership, they decided they would support us with their utility savings."

Also brought up was the cancellation of this year's Friendship Festival, which has been a primary source of funding for the many non-profit, private organizations on base.

"Friendship Festival was a tough decision, but it's very difficult to look folks in the eye and say, 'We're going to do Friendship Festival, but here are things we are not going to be able to do anymore.' My advice to the private organizations is it's really time to sit down and look deeply into your charter and into your ability to collect donations," said August. "As the Wing Commander, I'm specifically not allowed to affect how they collect funds or how they disburse funds either. I'd love to help more."

Another question which the commander answered was whether Yokota would experience any change in its local exercise schedule or its overall ability to respond to contingencies.

"We're not going to be changing our local exercise schedule. Folks can look at that and build their leave schedule and set up their appointment calendars around it," said August.
"The part that I really have to address," he added, "is the question, 'Are we still prepared?' and the answer is, 'Yes.' What I've asked folks to do here at Yokota is not to spend their last dollar, use their last gallon of fuel or drop of hydraulic fluid. Maintain, preserve, and protect the combat capability that we have, because when our nation calls our answer is going to be, 'Yes'."

Lastly, the commander took on concerns about the recent cancellation of Air Force Tuition Assistance.

"This is a tough one for us, but we are working hard to get as much information as we possibly can. We are going to hold an Airmen's Call in the base theater for those who want to know all the options that are available to them," August said. "There are scholarships, there are grants, and there are programs for us to make sure that we take care of our Airmen as they pursue their educational goals."

The challenges facing Yokota will make for some difficulties, but August said he believes that Team Yokota is up to the task.

"You know what's going to make the difference? It's all the Airmen, pulling together to understand that this is the challenge that we have," August said. "Our leadership team has been working on this for the past few weeks. We've been hanging tight on this one. We've got a great plan, and I think that you're going to see that once we make the hard choices, we're still going to keep taking care of our Airmen at Team Yokota."