Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz speaks with Airmen during breakfast at the Georgia Pines Dining Facility at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., Jan. 18, 2012. Schwartz answered questions about career progression, changes in education benefits and the U.S. military’s departure from Iraq. He also commented on resiliency in the Air Force and programs available to help Airmen manage challenges. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jamal D. Sutter/Released)
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz shakes hands with U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Nick Chamberlain, 23d Aircraft Maintenance Squadron avionics systems craftsman, during a visit to Moody Air Force Base, Ga., Jan. 18, 2012. Schwartz met with Airmen from the 347th Rescue Group and 23d Maintenance, Fighter, Medical and Mission Support Groups. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jamal D. Sutter/Released)
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz speaks with U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Nathaniel Salemka, 23d Fighter Group, during a visit to Moody Air Force Base, Ga., Jan. 18, 2012. Schwartz met with Airmen from the 23d Fighter Group and other various units to thank them for what they do and to get their views on life in the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jamal D. Sutter/Released)
U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Michael Focarino, 824th Base Defense Squadron alpha flight leader, speaks with Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz during Schwartz’s visit with the 820th Base Defense Group at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., Jan. 18, 2012. Schwartz met with Airmen from the group and viewed a military operation in urban terrain demonstration, which showcased their capabilities when deployed downrange. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jamal D. Sutter/Released)
U.S. Air Force 2nd Lt. Michael Focarino, 824th Base Defense Squadron alpha flight leader, speaks with Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz during a military operation in urban terrain demonstration at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., Jan. 18, 2012. During the MOUT demonstration, Schwartz met with 820th Base Defense Group Airmen and viewed their deployed capabilities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jamal D. Sutter/Released)
Bronze Star and Distinguished Flying Cross Medal recipients look on during an address from Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., Jan. 18, 2012. Schwartz presented the medals during an all-call where he also spoke about current Air Force priorities and answered questions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jamal D. Sutter/Released)
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz addresses Airmen of Moody Air Force Base, Ga., during an all-call Jan. 18, 2012. During the address, Schwartz spoke on current Air Force priorities including budget, force management, air expeditionary force rotations and suicide prevention. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jamal D. Sutter/Released)
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz addresses Airmen of Moody Air Force Base, Ga., during an all-call Jan. 18, 2012. Schwartz thanked Team Moody Airmen for their dedication to the mission and spoke on current Air Force priorities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jamal D. Sutter/Released)
U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Joshua Lynch, 23d Operations Support Squadron air traffic controller, asks Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz a question during an all-call at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., Jan. 18, 2012. Lynch asked the general for his views on possible changes in military retirement benefits. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jamal D. Sutter/Released)
by Airman 1st Class Nicholas Benroth
23rd Wing Public Affairs
1/20/2012 - MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. (AFNS) -- Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and his wife Suzie spent Jan. 18 visiting the Airmen of Moody Air Force Base.
Schwartz, along with 23rd Wing Commander Col. Billy Thompson and 93rd Air Ground Operations Wing Commander Col. Scott Kindsvater, spent the day touring the base and meeting with Airmen to discuss the Air Force and its future.
"This is a great base with great people and, importantly, a great mission," Schwartz said in an interview during his visit. He called the close air support, force protection and personnel recovery missions at Moody "a great combination" and said he was impressed by the motivated people he met all across the base.
Schwartz had the opportunity to see first-hand the capabilities of the 23rd WG and 93rd AGOW, and how the Airmen support one another by combining their different capabilities. He said Moody's team excelled at its diverse mission areas, to include the ability to coordinate close air support with joint and partner ground forces.
"This is what we call the air-ground interface, and that interface is practiced here at Moody better than almost any other place," Schwartz said. "Doing this well means that we support our joint teammates in exactly the way they need, while minimizing the likelihood of collateral damage or unintended effects. This is what happens at Moody."
Moody's population of approximately 6,000 Airmen includes a wide range of Air Force specialties, all of which are vital to Air Force operations at home and overseas. Schwartz met with Airmen who recently returned from a deployment, and talked with them about the high operations tempo.
"Just look at the deployment rates here in every discipline, from the medics, to the maintainers, the base defenders and so on," Schwartz said. "You just had elements from Moody return as the last people on the ground in Iraq, and I don't doubt that will probably be true in Afghanistan as well."
The general had the opportunity to talk with Airmen from all the different career fields at Moody, from the flight line to the food line, and offered one piece of advice to the Airmen.
"Keep your promises -- trust is the one thing that is so important to all of us in the Air Force and across our services," Schwartz said. "The way one builds trust is to keep one's promises in matters both large and small."
Schwartz wrapped up his visit to Moody by taking the opportunity to address Moody Airmen during an all-call, focusing his comments on budget, force management, air expeditionary force rotations and suicide prevention.
"It was our honor to host General Schwartz and his wife Suzie here at Moody," Thompson said. "General Schwartz seemed to enjoy the opportunity to learn of our mission and meet the Team Moody Airmen. We valued his time and discussion of Air Force priorities."
Comments
1/24/2012 10:43:05 AM ET Curious Capt, thanks for the humor this morning. I have been to Moody AFB before so I automatically thought of there. But I can see how any one of us could have thought briefly like you did. A good chuckle.
Load, NV
1/23/2012 2:08:03 PM ET I wonder if the author knew he was playing with words on the title Moody Airmen vs Moody AFB Airmen. Quick glance at the title made my brain think about Airmen with diverse moods. just thought it was funny.
