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380AEW Article

COMACC Greets Deployed Airmen

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Kidron B. Vestal
  • Chief of Public Affairs, 380th Air Expeditionary Wing
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  "I am here to tell you, that I work for you," said Gen. William M. Fraser III, Air Combat Command commander in a visit to deployed Airmen at the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Nov. 23-24, 2009.

After a day of touring base operations, maintenance and support functions, General Fraser addressed his "boots on the ground" in an evening Airman's call and assured his audience that their priorities were his as well.

"The sooner we get our job done, then the sooner you get to come home to your family and loved ones who are making just as many sacrifices...in order for you to be here, staying focused on today's fight ," said General Fraser.

Looking forward with criticality is important but difficult given the unknowns, the four-star general said. In describing the past, "We have not done well in predicting the future."

In support of the U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz's "Year of the Air Force Family" pledge, General Fraser pointed that it is "It is more than just a slogan, it is actually some programs... to make sure that we are doing everything we can to take care of you and to take care of our families."

With deployment tempos high, General Fraser lauded National Guard and Reserve members who choose to fulfill some of the expeditionary requirements for the active-duty forces.

"For every volunteer that we have on the Guard and Reserve side, that's an active duty member that doesn't have to then forward-deploy. That's huge, and has given us some relief in certain areas."

The 1974 Texas A&M University graduate has traveled to numerous installations, at home and abroad, since taking command--highlighting different matters of importance to the Air Force.

The topic of nuclear surety was discussed at the Airman's call, when a question was raised regarding feedback from the recent Air Force Corona Conference, an annual vision-mapping session for AF four-star generals. Six hours alone were dedicated to the nuclear mission, said the General. The event--scheduled to last one and one-half days, was extended, due to the emphasis placed on the matter.

Progressive plans for unmanned aerial platforms are also on the table, though changes for the RQ-4 Globalhawk are not ready for implementation.

Speaking locally, the manned U-2 Dragonlady is estimated to exist in the fight a little while longer. General Fraser said the program has been fiscally-secured for a few additional years.

"We're not going to let go until we've got the full grip on the other side of that capability and that transition plan."

Also present for the visit included Maj. Gen. (Select) David Goldfein, Air Combat Command director of Air and Space Operations, Lt. Gen. Mike Hostage, U.S. Air Forces Central Command commander, Chief Master Sgt. Martin Klukas, Air Combat Command command chief, and Chief Master Sgt. Scott Dearduff, U.S. Air Forces Central Command command chief.

General Fraser is stationed at Langley Air Force Base, Va. and has served six times in a joint-service environment. His aerial platform experience includes the B-1, B-2, B-52 among others. In his prior assignment, he served as the Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force at the Pentagon.

Even in an expeditionary environment, the visitors said they felt like they were "home" at the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing.