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