ACC commander praises 386th Airmen for essential contributions in Southwest Asia

Published July 21, 2010
By Staff Sgt. Stefanie Torres
386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- The commander of Air Combat Command praised the men and women of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing during an Airmen's Call at an undisclosed base here July 18, saying their expert operation of a crucial air hub continues to make it possible for troops to accomplish their missions throughout the U.S. Central Command Area of Operations.

"We wanted to come out and say thank you for what you are doing," Gen. William M. Fraser III told a packed audience in the base theater. "We have a lot of challenges, but you are standing up to those challenges and turning them into opportunities to excel. Without you, we would not be able to do what we do in so many places throughout the AOR."

The 386th AEW operates the primary air hub for Operation Iraqi Freedom and provides airlift support for Operation Enduring Freedom and the Horn of Africa. The wing also is home to the U.S. Air Force's only long-haul trucking unit, the 387th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron. General Fraser toured both operations during his visit here, getting an opportunity to see the wing's Airmen at work.

In the past year alone, those Airmen have flown more than 14,000 airlift sorties that delivered over 354,000 tons of cargo to locations throughout the Central Command AOR. They also executed 734 convoy missions in and out of Iraq, hauling over 733,000 tons of cargo more than 13 million miles.

That pace is expected to quicken in the coming weeks as U.S. forces continue their responsible drawdown in Iraq, a fact noted by Chief Master Sgt. Martin S. Klukas, ACC Command Chief Master Sergeant, who joined General Fraser for the Airman's Call.

"Your motto here is 'Gateway to Victory,'" said Chief Klukas, who also served as the 386th AEW command chief in 2004 and 2005. "We are going to do this responsible drawdown from Iraq, and you all are going to be a huge piece of that."

General Fraser, who was accompanied on his visit here by Lt. Gen. Mike Hostage, U.S. Air Forces Central commander, and Maj. Gen. David L. Goldfein, ACC director of Air and Space Operations, also discussed other contributions Airmen are making to the joint team.

Leaders from the Air Force's sister services continue to request that more Airmen join them all over the world, he said, because Airmen have the ability to "listen, learn, adapt and improve."

The joint team "wants more of us and wants us to do more," said General Fraser. "We are willing to do that. Tell us what you need, give us the mission and we will go accomplish it. It's our people that make the mission happen. We are learning every single day how to be more effective and efficient."

General Fraser also took the opportunity to express his gratitude for the families of deployed members. He reassured them that their sacrifices are not going unnoticed.

"We appreciate what your families back home are doing," he said. "Be sure to thank them for the sacrifices they are making. We have to nurture them and lead them. We have to make sure we are providing for them."

Taking care of Airmen is a "number-one priority" for the Air Force, General Fraser added, and that includes the total-force team of Guard, Reserve and active-duty members. Teamwork and the right balance of resources across all components also will be essential to maintain current mission effectiveness, he explained.

"Combatant commanders around the world are counting on the Air Force to maintain air dominance and air supremacy, should we be called on, so it is imperative to make sure we have the right balance," the ACC commander said. "Although we have a strong focus on the present, we cannot take our eyes off the future. We've got to make sure we maintain the right balance with our resources -- that we modernize and recapitalize. We have to use resources effectively.

"I'm excited about our Air Force and where we are," he said. "I appreciate those who have come before us and given us the capabilities that we have. I appreciate you for adapting those capabilities to today's fight. It's you, our Airmen, who are making this happen. We will continue taking care of you."