CENTAF's top enlisted Airman discusses war

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Michael O'Connor
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) --  The command chief master sergeant of 9th Air Force and United States Central Command Air Forces kicked off a theater-wide tour Jan. 24 at a Southwest Asia air base.

Chief Master Sgt. Todd Small spoke with Airmen at two Enlisted Calls about key accomplishments made by today's Airmen who are filling non-traditional "in-lieu-of" taskings, some of the challenges Airmen face while deployed, and the importance of air power projection, which has proven vital to operations throughout the Central Command area of responsibility.

"The U.S. Air Force is absolutely central to the war on terrorism," Chief Small said. "The Air Force synchronizes and integrates combat effects in the battle space and our Airmen are the ones who put the 'power' in airpower. Our Airmen are in the fight, at all levels across the entire spectrum of warfare."

Today, nearly 33,000 Airmen are deployed across the globe at any given time with some 26,000 of those located in the CENTAF area of responsibility serving in a variety of mission sets and a variety of disciplines, such as "in-lieu-of" taskings.

"The Air Force has nearly 6,000 Airmen assigned in 'in-lieu-of' forces roles supporting the Army and other functions here and the Airmen do fantastic work," Chief Small said. "Every sergeant major that I meet with responds with how outstanding our Airmen in those 'in-lieu-of' roles have performed."

The biggest challenge deploying Airmen face at the outset is no different than some of the obstacles that had to be overcome by their predecessors. Chief Small said all Airmen have to adapt to the operating environment and understand where they fit into the various roles and functions within their organizations.

"We have, at many of our locations, persistent leadership who are here for extended periods of time up to a year -- well beyond the horizon of a typical air and space expeditionary force," Chief Small said. "And those leaders help set the stage for success for deploying Airmen by integrating the Airmen into the mission, getting them focused, and ensuring they achieve that level of productivity to help ensure we're successful with the mission at hand. 

"Our Airmen are just as competent, just as capable today as the Airmen who preceded them in the wars of the past," he said. "Just like Airmen in previous conflicts, when asked, when called -- they answered. They are truly guardians of freedom and justice and are as competent and capable a warrior as this nation has ever had on the front lines."

The chief also addressed projecting airpower and how it's employed in the area of responsibility.

"We have in the Air Force some of the best developed, most focused capabilities at projecting air power," Chief Small said. "We can project airpower beyond the horizon and across the oceans -- only the U.S. Air Force has the ability to do that -- to build the air-bridge with our tankers, to use our air mobility assets to engage any time, any place, and that's something that's unique and distinct about the U.S. Air Force."

Airmen continue to fight; they are committed and engaged, Chief Small said. "They will continue fighting as long as our national leadership needs us and our nation requires it."

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