Air Force leaders speak at annual AFA convention

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Julie Weckerlein
  • Air Force News Service
ORLANDO, Fla. (AFNEWS) --  History and heritage, recapitalization and mission readiness and accomplishments were just a few of the topics covered by the Air Force's senior leaders at the Air Force Association's 23rd annual Air Warfare Symposium here Feb. 8 and 9.

Secretary of the Air Force Michael W. Wynne introduced his updated Airman's Card at the conference during his speech, and presented a video highlighting the Air Force Memorial opening ceremony which took place in October.

"The Memorial reminds us that we are in the midst of our 60th anniversary year as an Air Force," said Secretary Wynne. "In this year of warfighting, of vigilance and deterrence, it is good to have this symbol of our heritage and aspirations."

Secretary Wynne reflected on 2006 and the challenges the Air Force overcame, especially the challenge of force-shaping.

"General (T. Michael) Moseley and I assessed the federal budget environment and determined that only by finding some freed-up funds within our Air Force could we begin the recapitalization of equipment we so urgently need," he said.

"We had to live within our bounds and find resources for recapitalization," he said. "Inside the four corners of the funding Congress had given us, we had to find a way to begin a major recap plan. This translated into some 40,000 full-time equivalent personnel slots. It was necessary, it is hard and painful, and it is bearing fruit."

Secretary Wynne also introduced his updated Airman's Card, which lists the goals Air Force leaders emphasize. The newest goal is "Every Airman an ambassador to all we meet and serve."

"In every forum and in every moment, all of us in the Total Force, in uniform and our talented civilians, express the Air Force values and effectiveness," he said. "This can be true also for our veterans, our friends and their families."

General Moseley, Air Force chief of staff, spoke of how the Air Force serves its country every day, describing the impact of its aircraft, such as A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, F-16 Fighting Falcons and MQ-1 Predators, and how every Airman contributes to the mission.

"Our mission is to fly, fight and win through air, space, and now cyberspace," said General Moseley. "Everyday, we offer rapid response for conflict as our nation's sword and shield."

General Moseley said he had just returned from overseas where he visited with deployed Airmen in Afghanistan and Iraq. He said he was amazed by the people he met, and how Airmen of all ranks are pulling their weight, even those with no rank at all.

"There was a kid with no stripe, which meant one of two things; either his stripe was taken or he was not old enough to have it," said General Moseley. "In this case, he was not old enough to have it, and he's already deployed. This tells a lot about what we're asking of these young men and women and how fast the spin-up time is from Lackland [Air Force Base, Texas] on a Friday afternoon when they graduate from basic training to going to tech school and then on to deploy."

He said that every time he holds a commander's call in a deployed location, he asks how often each Airman has been deployed. "There are hands raised when I ask if this is their sixth, seventh or eighth time deploying since 9/11."

General Moseley went on to describe the missions accomplished over in the Central Command by Airmen everyday, and spoke of his pride for the service.

"Over the course of our 16 years in Central Command, our actions in air, space and cyberspace have a daily decisive effect," he said.

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