Commander highlights AETC mission, impact, initiatives

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Mike Hammond
  • Air Education and Training Command Public Affairs
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) --  The commander of Air Education and Training Command treated a crowd of more than 2,000 to a look at "The First Command's" mission, initiatives, and impact on the Air Force during opening comments at the 2007 AETC Symposium Sept. 6 in San Antonio.

Gen. William R. Looney III highlighted the three main branches of the command's mission -- recruiting, training, and educating Airmen -- and pointed out AETC's contributions to the war on terrorism.

"We're in the fight," General Looney said. "Last year, we deployed more than 3,500 individuals to the (area of responsibilities) -- about 1,450 are currently deployed. We have 113 people on 365-day rotations, and 20 percent are in non-traditional Army taskings in-lieu-of."

In addition to the direct role of supplying warrior Airmen to the fight, the general pointed to the very real impact of training on Airmen's success in theater.

"The vast majority of Airmen we train are going to be somewhere in harm's way within the next year or two," General Looney said. "It is up to us to impart to them the talent and skill they need to accomplish their mission in a world-class fashion and at the same time make sure we get them back safely to the families that love them."

AETC includes Air Force Recruiting Service, two numbered Air Forces, and Air University -- each entity having many initiatives in the works.

The general highlighted the work of Air Force recruiters to bring in the right quantity of Airmen of the highest quality. Noting the Air Force has the highest percentage among all services of enlistees scoring in the top half of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test, General Looney also pointed out that the Air Force admitted the smallest percentage of applicants requiring any kind of moral waiver to enlist. Upcoming initiatives to market the Air Force to potential applicants include aligning recruiting zones with zip codes and continuation of successful advertising and promotional campaigns.

Second Air Force is responsible for technical training. General Looney pointed to the November 2008 addition of two weeks to Basic Military Training, adding survival, escape, resistance and evasion training for all Airmen, and the stand-up of Common Battlefield Airmen Training as ways Airmen working "outside the wire" will get the training they need to be able to perform and return home safely.

Nineteenth Air Force conducts flying training for the Air Force. The command's new initial flight screening operation is doing well in preparing flying candidates for the rigors of military aviation, General Looney said. 

The general also said the Air Force plans to stand up an F-22 basic qualification course. 

"This means we're going to take some of the young lieutenants and make their dream come true -- send them directly to the F-22," he said. 

General Looney said a new undergraduate pilot training syllabus has been designed to produce an "even better pilot than we've already been producing" and training aircraft improvements like the upgraded avionics on the T-38C Talon help the Air Force.

Air University produces the students, faculty and ideas that shape how America conducts warfare across the full spectrum of conflict and its importance is known not only by the continuing professional military education of Air Force members, but also the work with Airmen from international allies, he said.

"Since 1958, more than 350 graduates of the United States Air Force Air University, from foreign countries, have risen to the rank of chief of their air force," the general said. "The relationship built during their time in this country ... is crucial because it's at the formative stage, usually, of their careers." 

This relationship pays "huge dividends" in executing coalition requirements together, General Looney said.

By recruiting, training, and educating Airmen throughout their careers, AETC executes its mission of developing America's Airmen today ... for tomorrow.

"Right now, today, we are training the first sergeants and squadron commanders of 2020," General Looney said. "We are now training the command chiefs and wing commanders of 2025. And we are recruiting, training, and educating the general officer corps that will lead this Air Force in 2030.

"I can't think of any mission more important to our Air Force, than the one we have right here in AETC," General Looney said. 

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