Chief of staff visits Beale

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Sarah Brown
  • 9th Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs
BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., (AFNS) --  Deployment lengths, force-shaping efforts and emerging unmanned aircraft missions were some of the topics on the minds of Beale Airmen during the visit by the Air Force chief of staff here Aug. 21. 

In his first visit to Beale since becoming the Air Force's top officer just over a year ago, Gen. Norton Schwartz addressed these issues and other questions from Airmen during an Airmen's Call. 

Beale is home to the 9th Reconnaissance Wing, which provides national and theater command authorities with high-altitude reconnaissance products via the U-2 Dragon Lady and RQ-4 Global Hawk reconnaissance aircraft and associated support equipment. The general's trip included a visit to various wing facilities as well as to base family housing. 

During the Airmen's Call, before opening up the floor for questions, General Schwartz spoke about the Air Force's invigorated nuclear mission, the important contributions made by every Airman and Beale's role in the ever-increasing reliance on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance in today's fight. 

"We all count, we all matter and we all contribute," General Schwartz said. "You don't measure your worth by your proximity to the fight, or even the flightline. We want you to be proud of what you're doing." 

One of the first questions raised at the Airmen's Call was the reduction-of-force efforts that had cut the Air Force's manpower from approximately 350,000 to 320,000.
 
"Our strategic plan was to reduce our numbers from roughly 350,000 to 316,000," he said.  "The reason was to save money, but ... the reality is people continue to cost more." 

General Schwartz reassured Beale Airmen that officials are going to increase staffing levels in select career fields. 

"We put 4,000 people into ISR, 1,000 back into the nuclear program and 2,000 into aircraft and missile maintenance. It won't make it perfect but it will make it better. We decided (manning cuts weren't) something we could sustain, so we're going to go to 332,000. We're not going to squeeze our people anymore," he said, adding that Air Force leaders would figure out another way to save money. 

Another area of interest for Beale Airmen was the direction Air Force officials plan to take in the ISR mission. 

Calling the U-2 a national treasure, General Schwartz discussed concerns over the plans to phase out the U-2 program, saying that while a plan is in place to eventually transition to Global Hawks, a timeline wasn't definite. 

"What the U-2 does is irreplaceable and until it's replaced, it'll still be used. Getting the range of sensor capabilities the U-2 currently produces integrated on the Global Hawk is taking longer than we'd like," he admitted, but added that once the process is complete, the shift from U-2 to Global Hawk will take place. Currently the Air Force is aiming for 2013 for the transition. 

"Clearly, without a doubt the ISR mission in today's world is ascending," he said.  "We wouldn't have taken 4,000 people on and put them in the ISR field otherwise. It is vital to today's fight and the kind of decisions our senior civilians have to make. I will pay attention to the transition, and we will sustain the U-2 until we have a solid transition. This is vital work and we've got to rock and roll all the way to the finish line." 

With increased operations and longer rotation lengths for Air Force members, deployment issues were another top concern that Airmen addressed with General Schwartz.
 
"The reality is that 120 days is not good for continuity in warfighting," he said. "What we have been doing is making it clear that we would say 'yes' to longer deployments if there was a strong enough argument. There are still some 120-day deployments, but predominately they are six months." 

Master Sgt. Shauna Raduske, 9th Medical Group first sergeant, asked General Schwartz to address training required for non-traditional Air Force deployments, now known as joint expeditionary taskings. General Schwartz said Airmen who receive such assignments will be fully trained for the work they will be required to do. 

"What you did was important. The country needs it," he said. "Maybe it wasn't your normal duty, and that's my job to make sure you are trained. We should be proud of what our folks are doing in joint expeditionary taskings." 

Other topics General Schwartz addressed were the Air Force's increased focus on physical fitness standards and the changes to the PT program. 

"If one is to get the mission done, one has to be reasonably fit," the general said. "We're very fortunate to have the medical benefits we do -- $45 billion is spent on health-care for us and our families; nearly 10 percent of the (Department of Defense) budget. One way to keep high health care costs down is for us to be fit, and for our families to be fit. We have to have the endurance to do the job we've been asked to do." 

In his closing comments, General Schwartz highlighted the importance Airmen play in looking after their fellow Airmen. 

"This is a family and we care about one another and each other's families," he said. "We volunteered to do this. The country needs good people to do this work. Let's make our country proud," he said.