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SECAF visits with deployed Airmen

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. James Law
  • 455 Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan --  The Honorable Michael W. Wynne, Secretary of the Air Force, visited with deployed Airmen here Feb. 4. 

Secretary Wynne visited Bagram Air Base, toured many of the facilities and spoke with the Airmen working throughout the base. Among the areas visited was the recreation tent at Camp Cunningham where Airmen filled the tent to standing room only to listen to Secretary Wynne as he addressed a few topics affecting today's Air Force. 

Secretary Wynne began with the strength of the Air Force. "We are sitting at about 330,000 active Airmen, 107,000 Guardsmen, 80,000 Reservists and 100,000 civilians. All volunteers in our Air Force," Wynne said. "From the first day you get onto Lackland [Air Force Base, Texas] all the way to the Secretary of the Air Force -- all volunteer; all wanting to add value to our Air Force." 

We would like to keep everyone in this all volunteer force, added Wynne. However, the Air Force is reducing its size, like we did when I was in the military. 

When I was teaching at the Air Force Academy, I received a letter in the mail that said we have too many people in your AFSC, would you like to get out, Wynne said. "So I actually experienced one of those down turns, post-Vietnam, that we are experiencing right now. 

Our fleet is 24 and half years old, said Wynne. We must ensure the Airmen who will fly and fight in air, space and cyberspace in 2020 and 2025 are as competent and as capable as we are today. 

To make that possible, the Air Force must modernize its fleet with the funds from reducing an over-strength force. 

"We knew we weren't going to get more money; we knew that because we are in a hot ground fight," Wynne said. "We could see that ground forces in fact had a higher requirement." 

Despite the cuts the Air Force is experiencing, Wynne praised today's Airmen innovation and what they bring to the fight. 

The innovation and efficiency Airmen bring to the way we do business is remarkable, said Wynne. Whether it's vehicle maintenance, vehicle registration, the way we do logistic support and readiness or how tools are brought to the flight line, everybody has very creative ideas, he added. 

Secretary Wynne also praised Airmen filling in-lieu of tasking positions. Wynne said these Airmen -- Security Forces, Explosive Ordinance Disposal teams and other ground forces -- are performing in a matter that earns the praise of the ground combat commanders. 

"I am exceptionally proud they love Airmen," Wynne said. "On the other hand it's a little bit frustrating because we do the job so well when you go into those taskings; I can't get you back." 

Secretary Wynne concluded his visit with the Airmen at the recreation tent by answering questions and recognizing individual Airmen for their contributions.