Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Cody explains recent changes within the Air Force during an Airman’s Call, April 1, 2013, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. Cody, along with Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, spoke about current Air Force priorities and what Airmen can expect from budget cut impacts. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Alexis Grotz)
Staff Sgt. Jason Lane presents a coin to Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, April 1, 2013, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. Welsh and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Cody came to the base to meet with Airmen, thank them for their service and talk about issues affecting the Air Force. Lane is assigned to the 23rd Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels management flight. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Alexis Grotz)
Betty Welsh shakes hands with Chief Master Sgt. Dianna Vallely April 1, 2013, at Moody Air Force Base, Ga. Welsh is the wife of Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III. Welsh met with the medical group to discuss the base's Exceptional Family Member Program and learn more about Moody's Health and Wellness Center. Vallely is the 23rd Medical Group chief enlisted manager. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Jamal D. Sutter)
by Staff Sgt. Jamal Sutter
23rd Wing Public Affairs
4/4/2013 - MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. (AFNS) -- Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Cody visited here April 1 to meet with Airmen and discuss Air Force priorities.
Welsh and Cody spent most of the day talking with and getting to know the base's Airmen and their missions.
During an Airman's Call, the Air Force leaders addressed Team Moody as a whole and expressed their gratitude toward the men and women who get the job done.
"We're just here to say thank you to you for what you do," Welsh said. "[Thank you] for the work you've been doing out of this great base for a long, long time, and some really difficult work so many of you have been doing in the war zone and other places around the world."
From pararescuemen who put themselves in harm's way so others may live to pilots who provide close air support for soldiers in the field, the chief of staff acknowledged Moody's place in today's fighting force.
"This is kind of the heart and soul of the combat core of our Air Force that's sitting in this hangar," Welsh said. "You guys understand the business, and you understand the commitment it takes. Most of you are part of organizations that have seen combat over and over again, and we just want to say thanks for what you bring to the fight."
Welsh also spoke about sequestration and changes the Air Force faces in light of across-the-board budget cuts. He assured Team Moody of his dedication to continuing to provide Airmen and their families all they need.
"Our commitment to you is just that we care," he said. "Everything else we do day to day, you don't need to worry about. You just need to know we care about you. And our job is to prove it to you."
Emphasizing the need for common sense, communication and caring in current fiscal uncertainty, the chief of staff charged Moody Airmen with identifying inefficiencies and unnecessary work at their level.
"We're past the point of doing everything just because it says so in an [Air Force Instruction]," Welsh said. "If it makes sense, if it helps us be more combat effective, if it protects people, if it takes care of our people and develops them better, we should do it. If it wastes our time, we should stop, and we should stop today."
Cody shared the general's sentiments and added that Airmen would have to continue to take care of each other through adversity.
"When I look out in the crowd and I see all you Airmen, I look at family in you," Cody said. "This is family business and for the next few years, that's how we will approach this. We have to take care of each other. We'll get through the tough times. We are still a great family. We'll be an even better family on the outside of this.
"With challenge comes great opportunity, and when you have great Airmen like yourselves, we will come out at a better place than we are today," he added.
After the Airman's Call, Welsh and Cody ended the day meeting more Airmen face-to-face while continuing to answer questions and thank them for their service in the Air Force.
