Top AF leaders visit Moody AFB Airmen

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jamal Sutter
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
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.