18th Air Force leadership focuses on operational partnership Published March 4, 2005 MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. -- The 18th Air Force Commanders/Command Chiefs Conference concluded here March 4.Approximately 57 commanders and command chiefs attended the conference, which began Monday.The conference, themed Wingman Ops, focused on building an operational partnership between commanders and command chiefs to reinforce the mission of Air Mobility Command and help each Airman understand how he or she fits into the big picture.They (commanders and command chiefs) are the ones that focus the war fight in our wings and groups, said Lt. Gen. William Welser III, 18th Air Force commander. If we are going to be the war fit and war fighting family that we are for Air Mobility Command, then it is important for us to get together and understand our purpose and the issues of the day.The concept behind Wingman Ops is what each of us can do as wingmen for each other to improve effectiveness while providing support for the war fighter.When you look at a finished puzzle you see this beautiful picture, but when all those pieces are laying in a box it may seem confusing, said General Welser. What we are doing is trying to give structure to those pieces. Every individual in our Air Force needs to know where they fit into that big puzzle and how they fit together in todays war fight, because we are a country at war.With the conferences conclusion, the general said he hopes the commanders and command chiefs walk away with a better understanding of what is available to them in the Expeditionary Mobility Task Forces and at the Air Mobility Warfare Center, and how they can work together to be a more powerful team in their different disciplines. Air Mobility Command News Service is a service of the Internal Division Office of Public Affairs 503 Ward Drive, Room 214 Scott Air Force Base, Illinois 62225-5335 618-229-7821