Secretary Donley visits deployed servicemembers

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Michael Matkin
  • 379th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFNS) --  Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley met with deployed servicemembers Aug. 26 at an air base in Southwest Asia and visited base facilities there during a brief stop on his tour of the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

He began his visit by making a presentation of six battle streamers to accompany the U.S. Air Force colors.

Lt. Gen. Mike Hostage, the commander of U.S. Air Forces Central Command, accepted the first of the six battle streamers on behalf of all senior Air Force leaders. He was followed by five representatives accepting streamers on behalf of the junior enlisted corps, NCO corps, officer corps, civil service branch and the contractors of the Air Force. 

Secretary Donley briefly addressed the nearly 500 Airmen attending the presentation. He said the base is, in many ways, the home plate of AFCENT and that it is a fitting place to honor the servicemembers who have served in Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and the greater war on terrorism, with the presentation of the battle streamers. 

"These campaign streamers serve as symbols, symbols to help us pay homage to the sacrifice, bravery and patriotism of our men and women who have served and are serving today," the secretary said.
 
Following the battle streamer presentation, Secretary Donley was joined by General Hostage; Maj. Gen. Stephen Hoog, Combined Forces Air Component Command deputy commander; and Brig. Gen. Stephen Wilson, 379th Air Expeditionary Wing commander, for a visit to the Battle Space Command and Control Center. The BC3 is a system that allows its users to pull real-time data from sensor systems around the AOR providing a view of the entire region. 

Lt. Col. Darren Ewing, 71st Expeditionary Air Control Squadron commander, briefed the distinguished visitors on the BC3 equipment that acts as the 'eyes and ears' of the battlefield and allows 71 EACS personnel to operate in a safe environment, thus reducing the need for a forward control and reporting center footprint in the USCENTCOM area of responsibility. 

Overall, the visit allowed Secretary Donley to get an up-close look at the wing's mission and its Airmen.
 
"I'm honored and privileged to showcase one of the wing's premier weapons systems to one of our senior leaders," said General Wilson. "Every day, our Airmen are providing outstanding support -- both on the ground and in the air -- of two major theater of operations, 24/7, 365 days a year. We're definitely All In." 

Commanders and Airmen alike appreciated the time Secretary Donley spent during the tour. 

"It means a lot to have the secretary of the Air Force take time to visit us," said Airman 1st Class Brandon Sabolo, a 379th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron patrolman, who attended the battle streamer presentation. "To me, it shows he cares about the well-being of Airmen and their contributions to the mission."