Photo By Staff Sgt. Stacey Thornburg | Col. Fish, 403rd Wing commander, held the wing’s September commander’s call at...... read more read more
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The 403rd Wing celebrated outstanding achievements at the very start of the recent wing commander’s calls, held Sept. 13, immediately highlighting the exceptional dedication of its Reserve Citizen Airmen before diving into critical updates on readiness and professional development.
Leading the honors, the 403rd Maintenance Group Quality Assurance Section was named the Air Force Reserve Command Maintenance Group Quality Assurance Section of the Year, while Master Sgt. Christopher Townsley, an 815th Airlift Squadron loadmaster, earned distinction as the AFRC Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Aircrew Member of the Year.
The wing also recognized its top quarterly performers for 2026. For the first quarter, Lt. Col. Lauren Rosenblatt from the Staff Judge Advocate office took home Field Grade Officer of the Quarter, 1st Lt. Regan Lemaire of the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron won Company Grade Officer of the Quarter, and Master Sgt. Brandon Breaux of the 403rd Security Forces Squadron was named Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Quarter. Staff Sgt. Cameron Levine of the 5th Operational Weather Flight claimed Non-Commissioned Officer of the Quarter, Airman 1st Class Sariah Hansbrough of the 41st Aerial Port Squadron earned Airman of the Quarter, and the 403rd Force Support Squadron took the Team of the Quarter award.
The momentum continued into the second quarter of 2026 with Maj. Patrick Tift of the 403rd Operations Support Squadron earning Field Grade Officer of the Quarter, Capt. Maxwell Peacock of the 403rd Logistics Readiness Squadron taking Company Grade Officer of the Quarter, and Senior Master Sgt. Alexander Cruz of the Wing Staff Agencies securing Senior Non-Commissioned Officer of the Quarter. Tech. Sgt. Kenneth Lett of the 803rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron was honored as Non-Commissioned Officer of the Quarter, Senior Airman Darius Eames of the 403rd Security Forces Squadron took Airman of the Quarter, and the Wing Staff Agencies Inspector General Office earned the Team of the Quarter award.
These achievements set a high standard for the entire wing, underscoring the operational excellence that Col. Jaret Fish, 403rd Wing commander, praised as he addressed the unit.
Fish commended the wing's high performance, noting that returning deployers achieved an outstanding 99%mission-capable rate.
"Our deployers just returned with a 99% mission-capable rate; an achievement that is not a miracle, but the direct result of planning, sweat, and rigorous pre-deployment training," Fish said. "We have to clear out the administrative noise so we can focus on what matters most."
To demonstrate how rigorous preparation translates into real-world impact, Fish shared how 403rd maintainers used their Tactical Combat Casualty Care training to save an unresponsive coalition service member downrange. "When you train hard, the exceptional looks routine," Fish said.
Maintaining this level of readiness requires daily commitment to physical fitness, administrative standards, and resilience. Fish emphasized that true resilience relies on strong wingman networks, urging Airmen to check in on each other during both the good times and the bad.
Sustaining this culture of readiness is heavily influenced by the daily habits and micro-decisions of every individual Airman.
For this message of accountability, Col. Richard Konopczynski, 403rd Wing deputy commander, emphasized that readiness is anchored in day-to-day personal habits.
"Life and success are not defined by one single decision; they are the sum of a series of tiny, daily micro-decisions," Konopczynski said. "It is about the small choices you make every single day—whether to walk away from a risky situation or stay disciplined in your personal habits. Those micro-decisions are what ultimately lead you to success rather than failure."
Konopczynski urged Airmen to take immediate ownership of their financial readiness by maximizing their benefits under the Blended Retirement System. "If you are under the Blended Retirement System and you are not contributing at least 5% of your base pay to the TSP, you are leaving free money on the table," Konopczynski said, advising them to log into MyPay and direct that 5% into a Lifecycle fund.
Physical and relationship health are also shaped by these small, daily commitments. Konopczynski shared that he and his wife make it a habit to walk 20 minutes every day to lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and improve sleep. He also emphasized that healthy families and strong units must actively make time to keep things light and bring fun back into their relationships, rather than only interacting when facing a stressful challenge.
While individual habits build personal resilience, strategic professional development and clear pathways for career progression ensure the long-term success of the enlisted force.
Chief Master Sgt. Timothy Mullin, 403rd Mission Support Group senior enlisted leader, laid out strategic updates regarding developmental education, centralized selection boards, and leadership vacancies. Mullin explained that Air Force Reserve Command is shifting to a centralized commissioning board managed by the Air Reserve Personnel Center.
"This change is going to open up visibility, allowing you to find out about different commissioning opportunities at other bases across the command," Mullin noted.
Turning to the Enlisted Developmental Education Board, Mullin delivered a candid assessment of what it takes to secure sister-service and advanced professional military education seats.
"If you are looking at the Enlisted Developmental Education Board, you have to be competitive," Mullin stated. "Make sure your CCAF is complete, your civilian education is uploaded, and you have finished your Senior Enlisted Joint PME."
Mullin also outlined changes to how developmental education courses are awarded, introducing a "sharing the wealth" policy. To ensure more Airmen have access to these opportunities, members selected for a course will pause eligibility for the next year or two. In addition to education, Mullin highlighted first sergeant vacancies, clarifying that promotable technical sergeants who meet time-in-service and PME requirements are eligible to apply. Finally, Mullin brought up a highly anticipated opportunity for unit esprit de corps: the upcoming March UTA medieval fantasy themed Combat Dining In, which will pit the groups against each other.
Rounding out the commander's call, a series of briefings from subject-matter experts provided Airmen with the administrative and safety updates necessary to maintain compliance and support across the wing.
Lt. Col. Mark Withee, a 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron navigator, highlighted the critical importance of Operations Security in safeguarding mission details and protecting critical information. Lt. Col. Sean Cross, 403rd Wing chief of safety, followed with guidance on hazard mitigation and keeping safety at the forefront of all operations.
On the administrative and legal front, Maj. C. W. Lemoine, 403rd Wing Inspector General, briefed the assembly on how to access the IG and navigate the complaint process, while Tech. Sgt. Curtis Broxton, the Equal Opportunity non-commissioned officer in charge, shared updates on the modernized process for making EO complaints.
For medical readiness, Master Sgt. Gabrielle Perryman, a dental assistant with the 403rd Aeromedical Staging Squadron, emphasized the critical need for Airmen to resolve Class 3 and Class 4 dental statuses, which directly impacts a member’s ability to deploy.
Master Sgt. Jonathan Kling, 403rd Wing Inspector General Inspections coordinator, provided a comprehensive update on responding to domestic and intimate partner violence, ensuring all personnel are aware of the rapid response, victim advocacy, and supportive resources available to the unit.
He concluded his briefing with the reminder, “If you see something, say something.”
| Date Taken: | 09.14.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 09.14.2026 15:50 |
| Story ID: | 574647 |
| Location: | KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, MISSISSIPPI, US |
| Web Views: | 74 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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