Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz discusses the future of the Air Force, the need for resiliency, and initiatives for supporting Airmen and their families at an Air Force Sergeants Association awards banquet July 27, 2011, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in San Antonio. Airmen gathered in San Antonio to celebrate the 50th anniversary of AFSA at the association’s Professional Airmen’s Conference. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Rey Ramon)
Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley congratulates the Air Force Sergeants Association on its 50 years of dedicated service to enlisted Airmen July 27, 2011, at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in San Antonio. Donley spoke at the 2011 AFSA Professional Airmen’s Conference 50th Anniversary Gala. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Vernon Young Jr.)
by Staff Sgt. Eric Donner
Air Force Public Affairs Agency
7/29/2011 - SAN ANTONIO (AFNS) -- Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz capped the 2011 Air Force Sergeants Association Professional Airmen's Conference with remarks at an awards banquet here July 27.
Donley congratulated AFSA on its 50 years of dedicated service to enlisted Airmen. He also applauded the AFSA and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Award winners, and commended Airmen for their continued professionalism and dedication.
"Our NCO corps is the envy of the world, and for that I owe many of you here tonight a debt of gratitude for the high standards and professionalism you have built to this point and will pass on to the next generation of enlisted leaders," Donley said.
The quality of Airmen is based on the leadership of the Air Force's noncommissioned officers, who expertly train, lead, coach and mentor Airmen, the secretary said.
"For better or worse, there are a considerable number of issues to monitor in Washington these days as significant challenges continue to confront our nation," Donley said. "As a practical matter, our Air Force is doing more with less, but we have been able to make up the difference and get the job done for the joint team and for the nation because of the unmatched quality and performance of our Airmen."
Schwartz then took the opportunity to congratulate AFSA on their commemorative occasion and to highlight the Air Force's noncommissioned officers.
"This annual conference and convention is an excellent opportunity for advancing professionalism and addressing significant issues, and for arming our enlisted corps with the knowledge and information they need to accomplish the mission, and to better care for each other and our families," Schwartz said. "The backbone of our Air Force is, always has been, and will remain, the professional corps of enlisted Airmen."
According to Schwartz, there are more than 40,000 Airmen currently deployed around the world supporting joint and coalition forces with air, space and cyberspace capabilities. The general also said 57,000 Airmen are permanently stationed overseas supporting combatant commanders, and approximately 200,000 support daily combatant commander operations from stateside locations.
"As we responsibly draw down our operations in both Iraq and Afghanistan, you will certainly continue to see considerable demand for the capabilities we provide every day," Schwartz said. "We remain committed to meeting these and other roles: precision strike; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and command and control of air and space assets."
Because the Air Force provides game-changing capabilities globally, the service must continue to develop highly-skilled, globally-oriented Airmen, the general said. These Airmen must be prepared to employ Air Force capabilities with joint and coalition partners in full-spectrum operational environments.
"Deliberate development across technological, operational and cultural dimensions must occur in basic training, and throughout a rich and fulfilling career as an Airman," Schwartz said.
With the 10th anniversary of Operation Enduring Freedom approaching, a decade of combat deployments has stressed Air Force families, Schwartz said. The Air Force continues to work at improving standards of care and education for families at installations around the world.
"Indeed, caring for Airmen and their families will remain a priority, because it is not only, as Secretary Donley says, the right thing to do, it is obviously the smart thing to do," Schwartz said.
The Air Force's effectiveness depends on the ability of Airmen and their families to manage the stresses of deployment and other everyday challenges, the general said. Building such resiliency is a top priority for commanders, supervisors, first sergeants and wingmen.
"The fact is we all cope with varying circumstances that affect us in different ways, and we must be open to the idea of getting help for ourselves when we feel we might need it," Schwartz said. "We must also encourage a fellow Airman or family member to do the same when he or she is experiencing difficulties."
As the Air Force continues its resiliency-related campaigns, the service will improve its ability to speak even more openly about suicide, resiliency and the invisible wounds of war, including post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety, Schwartz said.
"We therefore will continue to call upon commanders, command chiefs, first sergeants, senior enlisted advisers, and indeed all Air Force wingmen and organizations like the Air Force Sergeants Association, to support this effort so that our Airmen and their families obtain the support that they need, when they need it, and to ensure we are not passive concerning the potential for loss of life among us," the general said.
Comments
8/1/2011 11:59:31 PM ET Keep messing with the pay and benefits and our NCO Corps will no longer be the envy of the world. We will be reduced to nothing more than a second rate force.
