SecAF visits the 386th AEW

Maj. Sheila Carlson, 737th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron assistant director of operations, discusses C-130J mission capabilities with Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia. During James' first visit to Air Forces Central Command’s area of responsibility as Secretary, she spoke with Airmen and gained a better understanding of the AOR and its missions. Carlson is deployed from the 146th Airlift Wing, Channel Islands Air National Guard Station, Calif. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Desiree W. Moye)

SecAF visits the 386th AEW

Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James speaks to members of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing during an Airmen’s call at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia. During the all call, James reflected on the past week visiting Airmen at the various bases throughout Air Forces Central Command’s area of responsibility. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Desiree W. Moye)

SecAF visits the 386th AEW

386th Air Expeditionary Wing group commanders introduce themselves to Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James before a mission brief presentation at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia. As James’ base tour ended and her Air Forces Central Command’s area of responsibility orientation closed, she said the lessons learned and the takeaways from the past week will help her continue to fight for the 690,000 Airmen under her purview. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Desiree W. Moye)

SecAF visits the 386th AEW

Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James is briefed on the 386th Expeditionary Medical Group trauma facility’s capabilities and procedures for emergency trauma patients at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia. As James’ base tour ended and her AOR orientation closed, she said the lessons learned and the takeaways from the past week will help her continue to fight for the 690,000 Airmen under her purview. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Desiree W. Moye)

SecAF visits the 386th AEW

Published March 24, 2014
By Senior Airman Desiree W. Moye
386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James finished up her first visit to Air Forces Central Command's area of responsibility with a tour of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing this weekend.

James arrived here Saturday evening and was introduced to the unit via the wing mission brief before taking center stage at the base theater for an Airmen's All Call.

During the all call, James reflected on the past week visiting Airmen at the various bases throughout the AOR and praised everyone she had come in contact with.

"I saw air and space superiority at work at every base along with command and control; mobility; global strike; Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance, all five of these core missions are in action on the front lines because our dedicated Airmen, who are at the very tip of the spear [out here]," stated James. "This has been a terrific learning week for me, learning about platforms and more importantly meeting several terrific Airmen doing incredible work."

After the all call, James was given the opportunity to visit the dormitories and see how Airmen assigned to the 386th AEW live.

One of those Airmen, Staff Sgt. Tiffany Hicks, 386th Expeditionary Medical Group, was thrilled at the opportunity to show off her living accommodations to the distinguished visitor.

"I felt honored and privileged to show the SecAF my room, she said. "How many can say the SecAF saw my room?"

But Hicks said the brief encounter was about more than just her room.

"I believe it shows the type of leader she is and will be; that she has a deeply vested and personal interest in us because she truly wants to make a difference," Hicks said. "I look forward to the many changes to come in the near future."

The visiting SecAF said it's Airman like Hicks and the wing's most recent award winners, whom she had dinner with Saturday night, that make her look forward to the future as well.

"What makes me so optimistic about our future force is the tremendous quality of our Airmen, and the motivation that I saw, dedication and the innovation of these young Airmen," she said. "I have no doubts in the future of our Air Force when I see them with so much energy and pride."

Before her departure, James toured the 386th Expeditionary Medical Group, and was introduced to aircrew members and personnel assigned to the 386th Expeditionary Logistics Readiness Squadron and 386th Expeditionary Maintenance Group.

Those interactions reinforced James' belief that the 386th AEW will continue to play a significant role as the AOR transitions from an expeditionary to an enduring, steady-state mission.

"The future is truly bright for this wing because it's had such an important past and present, which will be carried on," James stated. "I am very impressed with the [capabilities] on the mobility side and ISR side, two of the most crucial missions here for the base to our national security strategies."

As James' base tour ended and her AOR orientation closed, she said the lessons learned and the takeaways from the past week will help her continue to fight for the 690,000 Airmen under her purview.

"This was a very valuable week for me, traveling to each base. I'm now able to take these stories back to Capitol Hill and defend our budget and explain our story," James said. "So thank you for the focus you bring to your mission and thank you for doing such a superb job for the United States."