Commentary: Thank you for the hard work Published April 5, 2014 By Colonel James P. Brock 442d FW Maintenance Group Commander WHITEMAN AFB, Mo -- I heard someone say once that, "one person with passion is more valuable than forty people who are merely interested." This is a true statement. This is why our maintenance group is the best in the Air Force. From top to bottom, our organization is filled with Airmen that truly care about the job that they do and that passion for excellence is evident in the final product we see on the flightline and in the skies every day. The worst mistake a boss can make is not to simply say, "well done" when it is deserved. The maintainers here and everyone else who made this deployment possible absolutely deserve it. It was no easy task preparing all of the equipment that would be needed for this deployment and it has literally been a 24-hour a day operation for the past few months ensuring that our wing was ready to answer our nation's call. I thank each and every one of you who played a part in making that happen. The path that led us here was not a smooth one. It was filled with obstacles. We dealt with sequestration, furloughs, one of the worst winters in recent memory, catastrophic equipment failures, and a host of other complications along the way. But you overcame every hurdle. You met every problem head-on and set out to find a solution. There were countless times that I was made aware of a problem only to find that by the time it reached my desk a solution was already being implemented. I wished I could recognize each of you by name but of course that isn't possible here. What I can do is let each of you know that your hard work and dedication to our mission does not go unnoticed. I personally extend my thanks to you and want you to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I am proud of the job that you do every day. I am proud of the monumental effort it took to ensure that the 442d Fighter Wing deployed with equipment that is expertly maintained and I am confident that the 12 aircraft that left Whiteman Air Force Base this week will arrive in the AOR ready to deal with our nation's enemies. This is a testament to your hard work. Thank you, and again...well done.