Hey , chief , I know we're both really
looking forward to the summertime . My
message to all our airmen is , hey ,
make sure you're being safe in this
Alaskan environment , whether it's
wildlife or the terrain or the changing
weather conditions can throw a wrench
in that plan at any moment . I think
hiking is a little bit different up
here . Uh You may have to travel long
distances , so it's everything from is
your vehicle , you know , maintain
properly . Are you watching safe speeds
on the roads ? And then when you go
down to some of these locations , just
the sheer remoteness of the vastness of
this state . And so first aid kits ,
the right training and maybe cell phone
coverage won't be there . But do you
have something from a navigation
perspective to keep you safe ? And then ,
and then right , how are you planning
for those contingencies ? Take the
opportunity , you know , living in
Alaska is such a tremendous adventure .
I mean , you won't find another place
really in the world like it is up here .
But I ask that folks just take that
extra second . Remember , you know ,
it's important to enjoy the outdoors ,
but at the same time , know that there
are hidden dangers and you need to be
prepared for that . You know , and
something else about being prepared
very recently , we know that the
Alaskan Arctic incentive pay , what was
announced really targeted at cold
weather climates and those type of
things . And uh it's really good to see
that because we know living and , and
doing an assignment up here definitely
comes with unique challenges . It's
really good to see uh Air Force
leadership very supportive and step out
on , on putting this adjustment in
place to pay for those necessary items ,
not nice to have items , but necessary
items . Like the block heater , winter
tires are absolutely a necessity from a
safety perspective . Right . And I , I
tell you what , I couldn't be more
excited about this opportunity . To me ,
it's very reflective of the importance
of our mission here . The fact that our
Air Force leadership heard the
struggles that our families were facing
and , and stepped in with this uh
entitlement to basically help right
size some of those requirements . So I
encourage , you know , for those airmen
that are inbound , that they take the
opportunity to posture themselves to
get all their equipment and their gear .
Right .