

7 December 2007

Warmest holiday blessings to one and all:
I sit here with my family as I type
this, thinking of all the pharmacy techs within our
Air Force family who have made this past year such a
successful one. Those that were involved in the JFPS,
all those who have deployed in support of the war
fighters this past year, and all who warmly welcomed
single airmen or others into their homes during
Thanksgiving.
I cannot thank each of you enough for
all you do each and every day; taking care of all
our customers to the best of your abilities while
taking care of yourselves and your families.
Along with a word of thanks comes a word
of caution as well. As you’ve read in recent Roll
Calls, we have those amongst us who are struggling
through this time of year, emotionally and/or
financially. I ask that you read those briefings
carefully and do all you can to identify those in
need and do your best at helping them. If you
yourself cannot provide the help, point them in the
right direction for assistance.
We have many challenges coming up next
year, but I know that we will surpass all
expectations of us if we join together and see them
through as one team. From working the 2008 Chief
billet validation process to completing the CDC
updates and aligning our work force with conversions
to better allocate and align our potential deployers
into the right platform to allow for their highest
level of preparedness.
The judges are currently reviewing
annual 4P award packages, and I congratulate all
MAJCOM winners. Hopefully by the time you read this
you will have been formally recognized. It is going
to be extremely difficult to determine one winner
amongst all the accomplishments I’ve read thus far
on these forms; we truly are amongst the best in the
Air Force.
As we move into the New Year, I would
ask that you train someone. That’s right; start with
just one person. Too often we get spun up about
whose job is it to train, and many of us resort to
‘it’s the NCOIC of training’ and always assume that
someone else will do the training. Please focus on
training in each and every encounter you have this
year. I’ve seen multiple ideas out there; from name
that pill, trivia pursuit style training scenarios,
even are you smarter than a pharmacist type of game
to make it fun and keep it interesting. One PTL at
one of our pharmacies even had techs dropping and
doing pushups….all training to prepare for the
future; either a fitness test or a deployment
setting. Preparedness is crucial.
I close by sending my best wishes to you
and your family this Holiday Season. However you
choose to celebrate it, please celebrate responsibly
and safely.
Proud to be your career field manager
Paul Lerch, CMSgt, USAF, CPhT