Chief of staff and spouse visit Aviano Air Base

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Katherine Windish
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy (AFNS) --  Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and his wife Suzie visited the 31st Fighter Wing here July 10 to 12, meeting with Airmen and their families while touring the installation and its facilities.

During his visit, Schwartz received briefings on the wing's mission and operations, dined with junior enlisted Airmen and conducted an Airmen's call for base personnel.

"Think about what Aviano has done over the last three months," the general said at the all call. "It's really quite remarkable: 1,300 sorties and over 8,000 hours supporting operations Odyssey Dawn and Unified Protector. Your Air Force leaders are extremely proud."
 
During his remarks, he highlighted the 31st FW's achievements, focusing on the importance of each member as part of a greater team. He addressed several career fields, eliciting loud cheers from the crowd.

"Is any one of you more important to our Air Force than another?" Schwartz asked. "No, because everybody here counts. We should be proud of who we are and where we come from, but it is what we do with the team that makes the difference."

Schwartz also used the forum to address important issues facing the Air Force, including budget constraints, the repeal of the law commonly known as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," and Airmen resiliency.

"We need to care about the person to our left and the person to our right," the general said. "We need to worry about those among us who are distressed, who might be under duress, and who might need a bit of encouragement, coaching and support."

All members of the Air Force family must be prepared to recommend to a teammate to seek assistance if needed, and everyone should feel comfortable asking for that assistance when required, Schwartz said.

"We know how to do this in a way that is compassionate," Schwartz said. "Please, seek help if you need it."

Following the address, he invited Airmen to present questions and concerns. He fielded queries about uniforms, retention, modernization and the future of the Air Force.

Although Air Force officials are continuing force management efforts to bring the active-duty personnel numbers down to authorized levels, Schwartz said he does not foresee Air Force end-strength shrinking below the fiscal 2012 ceiling of 332,800.

"We are going to do our best to keep them all in our Air Force," Schwartz said in response to concern about budget constraints and their effect on the Air Force. "We're all busy, so we don't need fewer of us to do the same work."

During the visit, the general's wife met with military spouses and children at the Parent Co-op, an unfunded, volunteer-run child development center; the Educational and Developmental Intervention Services clinic; Aviano and Pordenone hospitals; and the Airman and Family Readiness Center. She also had lunch with key spouses.