Introducing Aviano 3-D

  • Published
  • By Brig. Gen. Barre Seguin
  • 31st Fighter Wing Commander
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  We serve in a critical role at a critical time and place in the history of our nation and our Air Force. As America's only fighter wing south of the Alps, our nation and allies count on us to be Forward, Ready, Now to fight in Africa, Europe, Southwest Asia, or wherever U.S. and NATO interests are threatened. Our mission statement, Aviano in 3D, concisely, clearly, and powerfully captures what we do at Team Aviano: DETER AGGRESSION, DEFEND U.S. AND NATO INTERESTS, DEVELOP AVIANO.

We DETER AGGRESSION through our Forward, Ready, Now presence, focus on our surety competency, and commitment to regional security.   Ongoing interoperability with NATO allies and our regional security commitment bolster our ability to deter. Our wing's recent commitment includes OPERATION Atlantic Resolve and Aviation Detachment rotations to eastern and northern NATO-member countries. These type engagements reassure NATO allies of our country's priority commitment to Europe and beyond. Our Forward, Ready, Now presence and posture deters future aggression.  Present day operations build on a legacy of storied success.

We DEFEND U.S. AND NATO INTERESTS by being the premier go-to fighter wing and trusted ally south of the Alps.  The 31st Fighter Wing has been central to the mission success of every major U.S. combat operation since the wing stood up at Aviano in 1994.  Our Wyvern Warriors have conducted combat operations in the Balkans, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya, to include OPERATIONS Allied Force, Southern Watch, Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and Odyssey Dawn.  Throughout the world, budget constraints are shaping the way nations plan defense spending. Our partnership with Italy provides a premium return on investment in the execution of our mission via a secure, reliable forward operating presence to defend U.S. and NATO interests.

We DEVELOP AVIANO by empowering our Airmen, families and our Italian partners to innovatively improve mission accomplishment through process improvement, cost savings, and savings in Airmen's time. From an infrastructure perspective, Aviano 2000 projects, completed over the past several years, have enhanced our mission efficiency and ability to care for our team. Whether it is tools or training, care or counseling, we continue to work to ensure our team has access to the right resources at the right time to facilitate empowerment and innovation.

DETER, DEFEND, DEVELOP--this is Aviano in 3D and our Team Aviano mission. Our mission is our priority as we focus our efforts and resources each and every day to ensure we're Forward, Ready, Now when called upon by our warfighting command, 3rd Air Force. Your role, Team Aviano Airmen, is to strive daily to improve combat skills, be a wingman, and build Team Aviano to accomplish our mission and exceed the expectations of our two combatant commands, U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command.

Aviano 3-D...our priority, our mission!