AFCENT deputy commander visits deployed Airmen

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Michael O'Connor
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) --  The 9th Air Force vice commander and the deputy commander of U.S. Air Forces Central visited 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Airmen April 2 at a Southwest Asian air base.

Maj. Gen. William L. Holland from Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., met and talked with Airmen who fly aircraft, maintain planes and deliver cargo to the warfighters throughout the area of responsibility.

"We're all warriors in the war on terrorism and we're all making a difference," General Holland said. "I think our Airmen see that as I see the gleam in their eyes when I talk to them. From an Air Force standpoint, whether you're in the air or on the ground, or in direct contact with the enemy or providing support from the rear, one day in the AOR with our Airmen takes the whole gamete of the support we bring to the overall fight.

"We are truly in this as a joint force providing capabilities and effects that are having a significant affect on both the war on terrorism and the counterinsurgency effort that we have going on in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa," the general said. "It really makes you proud."

Every day in the AOR sees 700 pallets of cargo and 3,500 passengers transported on 50-plus C-130 Hercules aircraft and C-17 Globemaster III.

"The air mobility mission as a whole is really about throughput," General Holland said. "You have to have bases to stage out of, but the resupply chain of moving people, parts, supplies is really about throughput. I don't think anybody does it any better than the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing (Airmen). The people out here understand that part of it. They work around some physical constraints, and they're out there making improvements. It just keeps getting better.

"Ninety-eight percent mission effectiveness! You guys have a great reputation of getting the mission done," he said. "Everyone talks about you being the unsung heroes, but you're not. We sing your song all the time and make sure everyone knows the importance of what you do and how well you do it."

One of the amazing things about Airmen today is their ability to adapt and overcome in a joint environment.

The general said the feedback he gets from the sister services about today's Airmen is positive. He said they understand, and they see firsthand, how innovative, how flexible, how smart, and how hardworking Airmen are and they want more of them.

"The biggest thing I get out of spending time with Airmen is I get really charged up by coming out here and seeing them face to face and seeing what kind of wonderful things they're doing and hearing them tell their stories and asking them what they need," General Holland said. "I tell them time and time again to let their senior leadership know what they need (and) to constantly be improving. We owe it to them to give them what they need to do that."

The general said some of the things he tries to impress upon Airmen are to understand and embrace the mission first and foremost, to take care of themselves in the harsh summer environment, and then to take care of each other.

"Every time I come out to the AOR, the things that stand out during each of my trips are the constant improvements being made to the life support elements and the programs that go along with those that keep Airmen smiling," General Holland said. "It really makes me feel good to know they are taking great pride in what they are doing. We, as an Air Force, are in good hands when we have great young Airmen doing the kind of things that they're doing."

Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link)

View the comments/letters page