Air Force Secretary praises Airmen, discusses ops at Airmen’s Call

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- Speaking underneath the U.S. and Afghanistan flags, Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley addressed more than 300 members of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing during an Airmen's Call here, Aug. 29, 2009. Mr. Donley thanked Bagram Airmen for their support in the war and urged them to continue supporting all joint and Coalition efforts. The Airmen's Call was held on the steps of the old Russian air traffic control tower, known as the 'Crow's Nest' in Camp Cunningham. The Russian Control Tower was built in 1976 during the Soviet Union's occupation of the region. Currently more than 5,000 Airmen are deployed to Bagram supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and NATO International Security Assistance Forces. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Felicia Juenke)

Air Force Secretary praises Airmen, discusses ops at Airmen’s Call

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- On the steps of the old Russian air traffic control tower, known as the 'Crow's Nest' in Camp Cunningham here, Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley thanked members of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing for their efforts in taking the fight to the enemies of Afghanistan, Aug. 29, 2009. Mr. Donley listed many missions Airmen carry out on a daily basis in support of the joint fight and thanked the Airmen for all their hard work. The Russian air traffic control tower was built in 1976 during the Soviet Union's occupation of the region. Currently more than 5,000 Airmen are deployed to Bagram supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and NATO International Security Assistance Forces. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Felicia Juenke)

Air Force Secretary praises Airmen, discusses ops at Airmen's Call

Published Aug. 31, 2009
By Tech. Sgt. John Jung
455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley visited with Airmen of the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, Aug. 29, during his second visit to Afghanistan in 10 months.

Mr. Donley spoke to approximately 300 Airmen at an Airmen's Call held on the steps of an old, Russian air traffic control tower, known as the 'Crow's Nest' in Camp Cunningham.

He used the opportunity to thank the Airmen here and relay a message from Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz.

"I can hardly express the pride General Schwartz and I feel in the work that you do here and the contributions that Airmen make in the joint fight," Mr. Donley said.

Mr. Donley went on to list the many missions Airmen are carrying out on a daily basis in support of the joint fight.

"From providing airlift from the continental United States into the area of responsibility and back; providing armed overwatch for Coalition forces; Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions; Special Operations Forces; Combat Search and Rescue; providing electronic warfare capability; all of this and more, demonstrate Airmen are 'all in,'" said Mr. Donley. "And we're doing it with the Total Force of Active Duty, Guard and Reserve Airmen, civilians and contractors."

Just days before his visit, Air Force airlift crews flew 149 airlift sorties, delivered 595 short tons of cargo and transported approximately 4,000 passengers. This included about 110,000 pounds of aerial resupply cargo dropped over Afghanistan.

Mr. Donley continued to praise the Airmen for their dedication to the preservation of human life, highlighting the efforts of the Air Force and joint aeromedical evacuation teams.

"We're providing aeromedical evacuation of wounded (including Coalition forces and civilians) from the battlefield back to theater hospitals so effectively that it has reduced casualties in this conflict to the lowest rate that it has been in any previous conflict," he said.

An example of this dedication occurred on Aug. 25, when Air Force HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters and "Guardian Angel" teams transported 25 patients to Coalition field hospitals from locations in Afghanistan. Pararescue team members located, rescued and began to stabilize the wounded in the battlefield. The Pave Hawks then transported these patients to field hospitals in less time than it takes for a civilian patient to reach emergency care by ambulance in the United States.

"The scope of mission you are undertaking in the joint fight is truly breath-taking. Without our Air Force, the joint fight would simply grind to a halt," said Mr. Donley.