Chief of staff visits Barksdale

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Alyssa C. Miles
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. (AFNS) --  The Air Force chief of staff visited Barksdale Air Force Base Nov. 25 to familiarize himself with the base's mission.

Gen. Norton Schwartz and his wife, Suzie, came to Barksdale AFB and the senior Air Force military member met base and community leaders, visited several squadrons on base and answered Airmen's questions. 

At an Airmen's Call at Hoban Hall on base, General Schwartz lauded base members for their recent no-notice Nuclear Surety Inspection. 

"For a wing like this to excel it takes everyone; every job counts," he said. "We're demonstrating that we can do what we say we can do." 

The general also took the time to recognize NSI superior performers Maj. Aaron Cowley, the 2nd Munitions Squadron commander; Maj. Sandra Volden of the 2nd Medical Operations Squadron; the 2nd Munitions Squadron; Staff Sgt. Margarita Taber of the 2nd Munitions Squadron; and Staff Sgt. Lenae Timmons of the 2nd Bomb Wing staff. 

The general acknowledged they were representative of the Barksdale AFB team and what they accomplished, and that Barksdale AFB was "keeping the promise" of service by executing the mission so well.

General Schwartz concluded the call by answering questions from the Airmen. 

Capt. Tiffany Feet of the 2nd Maintenance Squadron received a direct response of her question concerning regaining a balance between resources and commitments. The general assured her that rebalancing was going to occur, and specifically that maintenance would be one of the career fields on the receiving end of some relief. 

"To hear there are more maintainers coming back to the force was great, but he acknowledged that it was still not enough and that we would still have to make choices," she said. 

The general also fielded questions on fleet modernization, joint basing, and the physical training test.  

"Our Air Force is facing many challenges and I don't think anyone expects them all to be fixed overnight, but we need to hear what our leadership is doing to move us forward," Captain Feet said. 

"In this business, there's only one way to do things right and it's the Air Force way," General Schwartz said. 

(Airman Allison M. Boehm of the 2nd Bomb Wing contributed to this story.) 

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