The White Falcon - 20.10.2004, Blaðsíða 1

85th Group Realigned
By J02 Travis D. Eisele
The 85^ Group realigned under the 48^ Fighter Wing, “The Statue of Liberty
Wing” out of RAF Lakenheath in a ceremony Oct. 13. Brigadier General Mark
Matthews, the Commander of the 481*1 Fighter Wing, said that the change will
provide an extra layer of support for the airmen here in Iceland.
“The change is necessary because the Air Force is organized in a traditional
wing-to-group subordinated structure,” said Matthews. “We have a lot of staff
agencies and personnel at the wing level and our procedures, processes and Air
Force instructions are all organized around a traditional wing-to-group structure.
It’s a bit awkward to have a group reporting directly to a numbered Air Force.
You kind of skip an echelon or skip an element of management and command by
doing that. Bringing the group under a wing structure we’re able to put in place
and ensure that we covered all of the appropriate processes, procedures and Air
Force Instructions and that we have the adequate staff there to see after the needs
of the people assigned here to the 85^ Group.”
He added that most of the airmen assigned here won’t notice the realignment.
“Our mission here has not changed, the support arrangements here have not
changed, so the mission should continue seamlessly,” said Matthews. “What air-
men will find because of this, is a better layer of oversight and direct leadership
as well as management available to the Group in terms of executing the mission.
So things will happen more smoothly as we continue to evolve the mission here
in Iceland.”
Major General Mike Gould, Commander 3rc* Air Force, said that the airmen of
the 85*h Group have played and are playing a critical role in defense operations.
“Keflavik has played a critical role in enabling power projection and global air
and space operations,” said Gould. “The 85^ Group continues to serve through
_________________________________________ See Realignment pg. 5
Vol. 63 No. 42
online at www.nctskef.navy.mil
October 20, 2004
Suggested holiday mail dates
The Naval Supply Systems Command’s
(NAVSUP) Postal Policy Division, in cooperation
with the U.S. Postal Service and military postal
officials from all of the services, notes it is not too
early to mail your 2004 Christmas cards, letters
and packages to and from military addresses over-
seas. In fact, everyone is encouraged to beat the
last minute rush and bring holiday mail and pack-
ages to the nearest U.S. Post Office, Army/Air
Force Post Office (APO), or Navy/Marine Corps
Fleet Post Office (FPO) by the recommended
dates listed below.
Military mail addressed to APO and FPO For military mail from and FPO address-
addresses, the mailing dates are: es, the mailing dates are:
Mail Class Mail no later Mail Class Mail no later
Parcel Post Mail Nov. 13 Space Available Nov. 20
Space Available Nov. 27 Parcel Airlift Mail Dec. 4
Parcel Airlift Mail Dec. 4 Priority / 1st Class Dec. 11