Yet another Minot CC bites the dust . . .

[mocitytx1]

http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/20...minot_103009w/



The commander of the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., was fired Friday afternoon for loss of confidence in his ability to lead.

Col. Joel S. Westa was the second wing commander at Minot to lose his job in October. Col. Christopher Ayers was fired Oct. 14 as commander of 91st Missile Wing, also for loss of confidence.

Reached at his home Friday afternoon, Westa declined to comment and said the Air Force had instructed him to refer all questions to a base public affairs official.

Westa received word of his dismissal from his boss, Maj. Gen. Floyd L. Carpenter, commander of 8th Air Force.

Westa, a master navigator, lost of the confidence of Carpenter because of his “inability to foster a culture of excellence, a lack of focus on the strategic mission … and substandard performance during several nuclear surety inspections, including the newly activated 69th Bomb Squadron,” according to a statement issued by 8th Air Force.

“Perfection is the standard,” Carpenter said in the statement. “We will continue to demand exacting focus, attention to detail, discipline and dedication to the highest principles and standards for all activities surrounding the nuclear enterprise.”

The new commander is Col. Douglas Cox, vice commander of 36th Wing at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam.

Westa took command of the 5th Bomb Wing in November 2007 after Col. Bruce Emig was fired in October 2007 for being unaware of the accidental transfer of a nuclear warhead on a B-52 that summer from Minot to Barksdale Air Force Base, La.

Since November, five wing commanders have lost their jobs. The others besides Westa and Ayers:

* Col. John Roop of the 11th Wing, Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C., was removed Oct. 6 after the commander of Air Force District Washington, Maj. Gen. Ralph Jodice, “lost confidence” in Roop. “He did not meet the leadership example we expected,” Jodice said through a spokesman.

* Col. John W. McDonald at the 43rd Airlift Wing, Pope Air Force Base, N.C., was relieved June 12 after arguing in a store parking lot with the wife of an Army soldier from neighboring Fort Bragg. The incident was witnessed by several people and prompted an Army investigation. After AMC officials reviewed the investigation, McDonald was relieved.

* Col. Bryan Bearden of the 8th Fighter Wing, Kunsan Air Base, Korea, lost his post Nov. 10, 2008, because in a series of inspections turned up problems in the wing’s maintenance group even though the wing was considered “combat ready.” The inspections faulted the wing’s adherence to technical orders and standards of documentation.

[VMX]

Perfection is the Standard, eh? That's tough. Maybe that should be written on the back of your orders when you are assigned to Minot. If you're not Jesus Christ, don't even bother.

[takthekak]

just my 2 cents...The 5th Bomb Wing CC got fired a few years and they picked
a top guy to come and take over. When that top guy gets canned, not sure
what that says. I would not want to be the guy replacing a place that
the 2 previous CC's got canned. I would love to say that finally people
are being held accountable, but perhaps, just perhaps this all is bigger
than these individually firings. I mean a few years ago they canned the top
2 AF positions and the SECDEF lost confidence in the AF...There were
things set in motion over the years and this may be the end product.
Meaning; having people fed up with their co-workers getting rifted
or stop lossed...Seeing shops do 110% while 50% manned...I mean,
hell, we all have a breaking point, it just takes balls to admit that we
cannot do more with less. I say that the AF is getting less with less,
but are mad becuase they used to people making things happen
and doing more with less and working smarter not harder, blah blah blah
enough of enough

[BigT2002]

Yet another reason why you need to stay away from Minot. I thought this guy was doing better by leaps and bounds than the previous one which was fired??? If this is the case, maybe a 2-Star General should just be in charge of the base since obviously Full Birds at this point can't handle the top spot

[Eastwood]

Minot has become a disaster. Back to back WG/CC's canned, and this guy was a good one. I find it curious that no one talks of how SNCO's are treated and their careers threatened and terminated as well. On top of that you have the entire officer corp., crapping in their shorts. No one is willing to make a decision. This is a recipe for bigger issues down the line.

Good luck with this one...!!!.

[takthekak]

There is no problem here, Basically it's just that
Shit happens, again.

[sigecaps]

I'm telling you ever since the failed nuclear inspection, and the loss of those commanders.. Minot has become a place where colonels go to die.

[Smeghead]

Shame, Col Westa was a good boss. Not sure how the hell they're going to get any office to take command there now though. Seriously would you risk your career by going there? Wonder what they offered the new CC.

But here's a question. Col Emig was removed after the cruise missiles to Barksdale incident and Col Westa put in his place. Now if Col Westa is also being removed for lack of confidence in his leadership shouldn't someone higher up step down?

[takthekak]

Originally Posted by Smeghead

Shame, Col Westa was a good boss. Not sure how the hell they're going to get any office to take command there now though. Seriously would you risk your career by going there? Wonder what they offered the new CC.

But here's a question. Col Emig was removed after the cruise missiles to Barksdale incident and Col Westa put in his place. Now if Col Westa is also being removed for lack of confidence in his leadership shouldn't someone higher up step down?

Falling on swords and grenades happens at the lower levels. Also, this surprised me:

Westa has been reassigned to the Global Strike Command at Barksdale, a new unit intended to consolidate control of long-range ballistic missiles and bomb wings that carry nuclear weapons.

The Minot base’s series of nuclear missteps were among the reasons cited by the Air Force for the creation of the Global Strike Command. Its commander, Lt. Gen. Frank Klotz Jr., was in Minot this week.

Komurek said Westa’s B-52 experience earned him a post at the Barksdale base.

“He has a lot of bomber experience,” Komurek said. “It will be a benefit to them.”

[Measure Man]

It's becoming far too fashionable to fire commanders in the AF.