MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- The commanding general of 1st Marine Air Wing and his staff visited the air station for a commander’s conference, Dec. 7 to 9.
Every quarter, Maj. Gen. George J. Trautman, 1st MAW commanding general, gets his group commanders together for a commander’s conference, providing the CG an opportunity to talk to his group commanders in one place and at one time. It is also an opportunity for the group commanders to exchange concerns and learn how to make their unit operate more proficient in the upcoming year.
“The reason they were all here is so that when we put out guidance – everybody is talking about the same thing,” said U.S. Navy Capt. David B. Emich, Marine Aircraft Group 12 commanding officer and native of Lancaster, Pa. “It makes us work more efficiently when we know exactly what everybody else is doing. It’s basically how to do business better in the MAW.”
The conference covered command-related issues, and operational and family readiness, among other things.
“The conference is a good way for the general to interact with his commanders and staff, measure progress, establish mid-term corrections and add additional goals to work towards,” said Lt. Col. David A. Tagg, 1st MAW comptroller and native of Huntsville, Ala.
After holding the conference, the general, his staff and their wives went to Hiroshima and toured peace park and socialized over dinner.
“The peace park was very peaceful,” said Lt. Col. Craig R. Clement, 1st MAW wing inspector and native of Stafford, Va. “It was a good finishing event to experience the history of Iwakuni and Hiroshima.”
“The peace park was a PME (professional military education). We were up there to understand the history that affects this region,” explained Emich. “The day that the conference started was Dec. 7 (Pearl Harbor anniversary). We kicked-off the conference 65 years after World War II started.”
Emich found it ironic the conference was held around the same time the Japanese planned the Pacific war and started it in 1941.
“They finalized the whole Pacific campaign right here,” said Emich. “A great deal of the details of the war in the Pacific and Pearl Harbor were finalized and ironed out here in Iwakuni. It was an interesting time to have a commander’s conference out here.”
According to Emich, the conference went well.
“Bottom line is we covered a lot of topics,” said Clement. “Everyone was there to listen, put their ideas and issues on the table and discuss them.”
“All of the commands got something out of it,” said Emich. “It was entertaining and informative. There was very positive feedback from everybody.”