CMSAF visits Offutt, speaks about tough decisions on horizon

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Danielle Grannan
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. (AFNS) --  During a visit here Aug. 18 and 19, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy met with the enlisted members of Air Combat Command's largest wing and Offutt's tenant units. 

Roy took time to dispel some rumors and explain to Air Force members what's on the horizon.

Understandably, one of the hottest topics of conversation was the U.S. government's shrinking budget and what that might mean to the enlisted force.

"I think we as a nation, because of our economic situation, we realize that we are going to have to take some cuts in the Department of Defense," Roy said. "And that kind of drives us to the question of how much? And then what? That's the big question. We certainly understand that there is going to be something."

The chief explained further that studies are being done to figure out how the Air Force can best cut costs without negative impact on critical missions.

"We have to understand that we can't sustain this exponential growth in cost," the chief explained. "There are certain studies on what competencies we as an Air Force need to provide to the combatant commanders as our nation asks us to. We need to know what the strategy is so we can develop those competencies. (This strategy) drives the platforms we have, it drives the force structure, which there's an awful lot of concern about as well."

Roy said he wanted it to be clear to all Airmen that no decisions have been made yet, although officials are looking at many different areas, including retirement benefits, health care, tuition assistance caps, force structure and even Air Force platforms.

Another concern, the chief explained, is the evolving culture of a post-9/11 force in the wake of drawdowns in overseas operations.

"I believe the latest statistic is around 70 percent of service members serving today came in after 9/11," Roy said. "If an Airman came in with the understanding that we're at war and they're going to be deployed and they're at a very steady pace of those deployments, that's the only thing they've ever known. That's the Air Force they know. What we need to do now ... is figure out how to replicate that. We've got to keep people motivated."

One of the most difficult aspects of this issue, Roy explained, will be maintaining a robust exercise program and continued education and training in the wake of economic woes.

While many of these difficult decisions haven't been made yet, Roy made it clear what every Airman should be doing in the meantime: exactly what they've been doing for as long as he has been around.

"The Airmen that we have continuing to serve on our force, both yesterday and today, are just so dynamic," Roy said. "When someone asks me, 'Why does a joint or coalition partner want the Air Force to be their partner?' It's pretty simple in my mind. We train our Airmen to think multi-dimensionally. You can't give an Airman one task and expect them to be satisfied. You provide them what you think you want, and they'll find an answer to it. Today's force is very intelligent and very inquisitive about how things happen and that's a very good thing. We want you to continue to think outside the box because that's quite frankly how we get through very challenging times like this."

Roy also took a moment to say thank you to those behind the scenes that make the Air Force mission possible, especially while these hard decisions are being made.

"On behalf of the Air Force leadership team, I want to say a special thanks to our members' families for what they do and the sacrifices they endure," Roy said. "It's not just your spouse and your children, it's the uncle or friend who you lean on when you need help ... we'd also like express gratitude to the communities who embrace our members and their families. Without that support, we couldn't do what we do."