New 5th BW command chief addresses Airmen

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Danny Monahan
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  The new command chief of the 5th Bomb Wing took time to discuss his priorities, his warrior message and getting to know his Airmen.

Chief Master Sgt. Mark Clark assumed his new position July 15.

"I have won the lottery and I am inheriting a terrific team and I am very excited to be here at Minot," said the chief. "I am very impressed with the base, the people and the community and I hope to add to the success of Team Minot during my tenure as the command chief. These are exciting and challenging times for our Air Force as we grow smaller to become lighter, leaner and more lethal and the firepower harnessed here at Team Minot will play an important roll in our force transformation."

During his tenure as the 5th BW command chief he hopes to improve morale for Airmen and families here.

"I hope to continue facility improvements, especially the dorms here," said Chief Clark. "It is clear we need new dorms and I think everyone would agree. I will be a champion to improve our facilities to maintain and increase the quality of life for our Airmen and their families. I am a big believer in morale programs for our families and unaccompanied Airmen, with special emphasis on programs aimed at our deployed war fighters families. Our people have placed great faith in us and our Airmen and their families deserve quality facilities to live, work and play in."

As a 28 year veteran of the Air Force, Chief Clark has deployed countless times throughout his career.

"If we have been in a shooting war, I have been involved in it one way or the other," said Chief Clark. "But that is what we do; we get paid to take the fight to the enemy."

Airmen and families can benefit from deployments, according to Chief Clark.

"We need to share our perspective on our deployed experience with our coworkers and family," said Chief Clark. "Our deployed experiences are invaluable because we can come back and better prepare the next group of deployers."

"But to take it a step further, we also get to tell our families about our experience and perspective about what the Air Force is doing over there," the chief added. "Many of them focus on the dangers of war and they worry about us. Of course there is always inherent risk with war, but we manage the risk through training, equipping and leading better than any other military in the world. We do all we can to keep a family's loved ones safe and we need to let families know that."

For those who have never deployed, Chief Clark has advice he wants Airmen to take with them.

"For those who are going to deploy, you have to be enthusiastic about it and make sure you let your families' know that the Air Force is training and equipping you for your mission," said Chief Clark. "Talk to your mom and dad and let them know what is going on and keep in touch with them as often as you can. So many of us are hesitant about talking about deployments out of concerns for security but we can let our families know we are deploying and that we are ready. That quick email or phone call from your deployed location means the world to them. Your loved ones worry about you all the time. You may be eating pizza somewhere, but the picture in their mind is you may be in danger. So keep them informed to give them some peace of mind."

While here, the new 5th BW command chief wants Minot AFB to know he will be out in the community getting acquainted with them.

"I want people to know that I am going to be out in the community," said Chief Clark. "I want Airmen to know that I will be visiting where they work, live and play. I am not an e-mail warrior, there is only so much you can do from behind a desk. You have to get out there and see how Airmen are really doing and how much job satisfaction people are getting."

While stationed here, Chief Clark hopes to contribute in keeping Team Minot on track as one of the premier bases and to serve the base populace.

"This is a historic base and my wife Linda and I are so happy to be here," said Chief Clark. "I believe in the Air Force and the 5th BW and I look forward to being a member of Team Minot and working with all the great Airmen here. I want them all to know I work for them, they do not work for me."