Air Combat Command leader visits Mountain Home Airmen

  • Published
  • By Trace Giles
  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho (AFNS) --  The commander of Air Combat Command visited the 366th Fighter Wing Airmen here March 7 and 8 to see them firsthand, thank them for their sacrifices and gain a better understanding of their mission, capabilities and challenges.

Gen. William M. Fraser III's visit included a dinner with Idaho Gov. C. L. Otter and civic leaders from Mountain Home.

Additionally, he toured the 726th Air Control Squadron, 266th Range Squadron, base hospital, fitness center, 366th Equipment Maintenance Squadron and 428th Fighter Squadron. To conclude his visit, he conducted an ACC commander's all-call, speaking to the wing in a hangar filled to capacity with more than 500 base Airmen. Specifically, he acknowledged the more than 600 base Airmen currently deployed throughout the world, including more than 300 in the South Korea.

"The 366th is deployed to the Pacific right now, and they're obviously having a positive impact as they participate in that deployment," General Fraser said. "Iraq and Afghanistan are not the only places we are serving. I'm proud of them and what they're doing."

General Fraser said the biggest challenge ACC officials are currently facing is having limited resources to get the job done.

"We need to continue to implement good ideas that don't demand a lot of resources, and make us more effective," he said.

At his commander's call, the general fielded questions from the audience on a wide variety of topics to include the new physical fitness standards, joint expeditionary taskings, limited manpower, Airmen morale at home station and deployed locations and Mountain Home AFB's candidacy as an operational F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter wing.

General Fraser said the main reason he wants to visit each base under ACC is so he can talk to Airmen and get their perspective.

"I enjoy talking and listening because it helps me become aware of the challenges and issues they are concerned with," he said. "I might not be able to fix all of them. My job is to work for the Airmen. You have the good ideas and we need to listen to you."

Tech. Sgt. Lisa Bellotte-Harris, the 366th Operations Support Squadron deputy airfield manager, and Tech. Sgt. Matthew Stritar, the 366th Security Forces Squadron NCO in charge of police services, said the general's message resonated with them, and they appreciated his visit.

"It shows we have a leader who cares and wants to know his people ... who they are and what they do," Sergeant Bellotte-Harris said. "For me, that makes a big difference. It shows he genuinely does care."

Sergeant Stritar agreed and said it was nice to have senior leadership come to the base.

"If there's one way to lead, then that's the way to do it; by using open communication top to bottom and from bottom to top," he said.

"Thank you for your service, thank you for what you do and thank you to the families who are supporting you," he said. "Especially your significant others and spouses, and even more so, your children."