Air Force secretary wraps up first visit to the AOR

  • Published
  • By Maj. Damien Pickart
  • 376th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
MANAS AIR BASE, Kyrgyzstan (AFNS) --  Secretary of the Air Force Michael B. Donley visited with Airmen throughout the Air Forces Central Command area of operations Oct. 9 to 15 during his first trip to the combat zone since being confirmed Oct. 2 as the 22nd secretary of the Air Force. 

Secretary Donley visited with thousands of Airmen at seven bases to observe firsthand how they're performing the mission and supporting the fight. A highlight of his trip at each location was an Airman's call where he thanked Airmen for their continued sacrifice and support to the mission.
 
"It's been a great trip," the secretary said. "I've had the opportunity to visit bases in the (Persian) Gulf, Iraq and now Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan. I'm very impressed with the work our Airmen are doing out here in support of the joint warfighter."
 
The secretary also pointed out the Air Force is playing a vital role in a variety of missions critical to the joint mission including space support; communications; special operations; mobility; and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. 

"I'm impressed with the scope of Air Force operations in the theater," he said. "I made a list of the different missions I observed over the past week and it's a really long list. We're truly helping to enable the joint warfight." 

At each Airman's call, the secretary discussed several topics including overall manning levels, refocusing the nuclear enterprise, improving the acquisition process and the deployment operations tempo. 

"We must restore the Air Force focus on the nuclear mission because it's one that demands perfection," Secretary Donley said, noting that a command soon will be stood up to integrate assets and personnel who support the nuclear mission, including long-range bombers and intercontinental ballistic missiles.

The secretary also pointed out how the Air Force needs to do better with its acquisition process in order to bring some critical assets into the inventory.

"The Air Force has a problem with its aging inventory," he said, specifically mentioning the need for a replacement tanker. "The Air Force needs to bring the new tanker online; it's absolutely critical to the mission around the globe and in the AOR."

Along with discussing pressing issues facing the service, Secretary Donley made it clear how important the people were to accomplishing the mission, especially the senior non-commissioned officer corps. 

"What most of the militaries of the world envy most is our senior NCO corps," said the secretary to an enthusiastic round of applause. "We have a motivated, dedicated and well-led Air Force, thanks to our senior NCO corps."

Throughout the trip, the secretary had the opportunity to see a wide variety of missions, including a visit to the Combined Air Operations Center, which manages air operations and Air Force support across the AOR. He also spent time with wounded servicemembers at Balad Air Base, Iraq; talked with Iraq's newest Air Force pilots training at Kirkuk AB, Iraq; and toured numerous operations, maintenance and support facilities from the Persian Gulf region to Kyrgyzstan in Central Asia.

At his final stop, Manas AB in Kyrgyzstan, the secretary toured the base for several hours, where he learned about the premier air mobility hub supporting operations in Afghanistan. Before boarding a C-17 for the long flight back to Washington D.C., the secretary shared with Manas Airmen how impressed he was with what he observed while there and throughout his trip to the AOR.

"I've been deeply impressed with the quality of Airmen I've met, their training and preparation for the missions they're providing and the importance of their work to the joint warfighter," said Secretary Donley. "It's been a great introduction to the AOR and what we're supporting here." 

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