Commander reflects on time as 'Flying Viking'

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jeffrey Williams
  • 934th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Minneapolis, St. Paul --  After four years, an operational readiness inspection and numerous other higher headquarters inspections, mobilizations and deployments, Col. Tim Tarchick, 934th Airlift Wing commander, is ready to say goodbye.
Next month he relinquishes command to Col. Darrell Young and assumes command of the 94th Airlift Wing at Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga.

"Not to be disrespectful to any other wing I have been in, but this is the finest wing I've ever been associated with," Colonel Tarchick said. "I have said that over again in commander's calls, staff meetings and community events. There are great people in the wings all across the Air Force and Air Force Reserve. This wing, for me, has been the finest wing I've ever worked with in my 32 years in the Air Force Reserve."

He assumed command in April 2006 after having spent four and a half years as commander of the 920th Rescue Wing at Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., an assignment he calls, "the most exciting mission that I've ever been at in my career."
Immediately upon his arrival in Minneapolis, he was confronted with enormous challenges. The unit was preparing for a unit compliance inspection a precursor to the dreaded Operational Readiness Inspection.

"When I first got here, we had six inspections in the first seven months," he said. "We were going right into UCI prep, which is where we are right now. I came into it fresh and didn't know anybody, and the units got it done."

The inspections gave Col. Tarchick an opportunity to examine how well the wing performed under pressure. He is most proud of the work ethic and professionalism shown by wing members.

"The thing that I'm most proud of is that we have hit every pitch that has come across the plate, over the fence. Those pitches are inspections, deployments and everything and anything that came our way," the colonel said. "The wing shines because of the people in it. This is shown by the numerous individual and unit awards that this organization and our people have won over the last four years. Everything this wing touches turns to gold. The work ethic (here) is something I will always remember."

Of all the things for a wing commander to accomplish, one goal eluded Colonel Tarchick during his four years here - establishing an installation Continuity of Operations Plan.
"We have all of these requirements that are for the Air Force Reserve, but yet in reality we have the Air National Guard, Army Reserve and Navy/Marine Corps Reserve. If something happens to the base, it's just not going to happen necessarily to the 934th, it could happen to another organization," he explained.

"I wanted to do a Continuity of Operations Plan and I didn't get to it. Really, that's the only thing that I should have accomplished but didn't. I ran out of time. Hopefully, I'll transfer that over to Colonel Young and he'll pick up the ball."

Colonel Tarchick doesn't think he'll feel sad to leave Minnesota, however. Thoughts of warmer weather, no snow, and the challenge of leading another now occupy his thoughts. A long time football fan, the colonel used a sports analogy to best describe his thoughts on leaving.

"As we see in the NFL, when a coach continues to take a team to the Super Bowl, they get to a certain point where they need to move on, start over and try to take another team to the Super Bowl. If I were looked at as a coach, I feel that we've gone to the Super Bowl by hitting all those inspections and events with a high level of excellence each year and after every event. I feel like I've accomplished as much as I can. It's time to move on and take the leadership abilities that the Lord has given me to Dobbins to try to take that wing to the next level," he said.

In a final message to wing members, Colonel Tarchick appreciates the efforts they have made to be successful during his tenure.

"I truly mean it from my heart to thank you for everything that you've done since I've been the commander. I'll be looking for your accomplishments and I'll have that warm fuzzy inside of me and I'll be smiling. There are great people here and I'll miss them," he said.
So what does the colonel hope his legacy will be as his name gets added to the roster of former commanders at the 934th AW?

"I tried to do the right thing, legally, morally, ethically and safely. I tried, every day, to come to work to improve the wing. It's all about the mission and our people and helping it succeed," he said. "I tried to do it with integrity and with character. I tried to honor people and treat them the way I wanted to be treated."