News>New under secretary visits Joint Base San Antonio
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Under secretary of the Air Force Eric Fanning salutes during the playing of the national anthem at an Air Force Basic Military Training graduation May 17, 2013, at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Fanning visited with members of Joint Base San Antonio May 16 and 17 with stops at Randolph, Lackland and Fort Sam Houston as part of his first base visit as under secretary. (U.S. Air Force photo/Benjamin Faske)
Tech. Sgt. Leonard Anderson shares his deployment experiences and discusses his rehabilitation progress with Air Force Under Secretary Eric Fanning at the San Antonio Military Medical Center May 16, 2013, atJoint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Fanning was able to learn more about the high quality care provided within the San Antonio Military Health System while visiting several wounded warriors. Anderson is a canine handler assigned to the 59th Patient Squadron at the Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Kevin Iinuma)
Under Secretary of the Air Force Eric Fanning, Gen. Edward A. Rice Jr., and Chief Master Sgt. Gerardo Tapia have breakfast with enlisted personnel May 17, 2013 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. The under secretary is responsible for Air Force matters on behalf of the secretary of the Air Force to include the organizing, training, equipping, and providing for the welfare of its total force Airmen and their families. Rice is the commander of Air Education and Training Command. Tapia is the AETC command chief. (U.S. Air Force photo/Benjamin Faske)
Airman 1st Class Jabrier Lee speaks about his condition with Air Force Under Secretary Eric Fanning and Maj. Gen. Byron Hepburn May 16, 2013, at the San Antonio Military Medical Center on Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Lee was diagnosed with toxic epidermal necrolysis, a rare skin condition caused by a reaction to drugs, which causes the top layer of skin to detach from the lower layers all over the body. Lee is a maintenance technician assigned to the 19th Aerospace Maintenance Squadron at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. Fanning visited with members of Joint Base San Antonio May 16 and 17, 2013, with stops at Randolph, Lackland, and Fort Sam Houston as part of his first base visit as under secretary. Hepburn is the 59th Medical Wing commander and director of the San Antonio Military Health System. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Kevin Iinuma)
Under secretary of the Air Force Eric Fanning congratulates a group of Airmen after graduating basic training May 17, 2013, at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Fanning visited with members of Joint Base San Antonio May 16 and 17 with stops at Randolph, Lackland, and Fort Sam Houston as part of his first base visit as under secretary. The under secretary is responsible for Air Force matters on behalf of the secretary of the Air Force to include the organizing, training, equipping and providing for the welfare of its total force Airmen and their families. (U.S. Air Force photo/Benjamin Faske)
Under secretary of the Air Force Eric Fanning tours the military working dog facility May 17, 2013, at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. The facility staff members provide trained military working dogs used in patrols, drug and explosive detection, and specialized mission functions for the Department of Defense and other government agencies. Fanning visited with members of Joint Base San Antonio May 16 and 17 with stops at Randolph, Lackland and Fort Sam Houston as part of his first base visit as under secretary. (U.S. Air Force photo/Benjamin Faske)
Under Secretary of the Air Force Eric Fanning gives the oath of office to Airmen graduating Air Force Basic Military Training May 17, 2013, at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. Fanning visited with members of Joint Base San Antonio May 16 and 17 with stops at Randolph, Lackland, and Fort Sam Houston as part of his first base visit as under secretary. (U.S. Air Force photo/Benjamin Faske)
by Alex Delgado
Joint Base San Antonio Public Affairs
5/23/2013 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO (AFNS) --
Eric Fanning visited with Airmen at Joint Base San Antonio May 16 and 17 during his first base trip as the under secretary of the Air Force.
His two-day visit to JBSA included stops at Randolph, Lackland and Fort Sam Houston, where he met with Airmen and got an overview of the military operations taking place in San Antonio.
"What a great way to begin my career in the Air Force by witnessing firsthand the very training environment that brings young men and women into the ranks as Airmen," Fanning said. He also thanked Airmen for their daily contributions to the Air Force mission. "Your role in providing critical training, professional education and vital medical care is crucial to the success of our Air Force."
Fanning began his visit with a meeting with Gen. Edward A. Rice Jr., commander of Air Education and Training Command, who gave him an overview of the many things going on in JBSA. While on JBSA-Randolph, he was also briefed on pilot instructor training at the 559th Flying Training Squadron and got a close-up view of a T-38 Talon, a two-seat, twin-engine supersonic jet trainer.
At JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, the newly appointed under secretary visited with Air Force wounded warriors, where he heard some of the Airmen's personal stories.
Fanning had breakfast with Airmen at JBSA-Lackland May 17 before attending a Basic Military Training graduation parade where he served as the reviewing official.
He addressed the graduates briefly before administering the oath of enlistment and reflected on the major accomplishment the Airmen have achieved over the past eight weeks.
"You are joining the best Air Force the world has ever known and we have no doubt you will make it better." Fanning said. "Commit to treating each other and yourself with respect and dignity, serve with integrity and you will accomplish more than you can imagine."
After the graduation parade, Fanning paid a visit to the 341st Training Squadron, where he received an overview of the Military Working Dog program. The squadron provides trained military working dogs used in patrol, drug and explosive detection, and specialized mission functions for the Department of Defense and other government agencies.
Fanning, escorted by Maj. Gen. Suzanne Vaurtrinot, 24th Air Force commander, toured the 24th Air Force headquarters facility and operations center where he was briefed on the Air Force's cyber mission.A subordinate unit to Air Force Space Command headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.,the 24th Air Force mission is to extend, operate and defend the Air Force portion of the Department of Defense network and provide full spectrum capabilities for the Joint warfighter in, through and from cyberspace.
Fanning concluded his trip with a visit to the 323rd Training Squadron where he met with trainees and toured a newly constructed Airman Training Complex.
