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| News > USFJ, 5th AF CC visits Misawa |
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U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Burton Field, U.S. Forces Japan and 5th Air Force commander, meets with Col. Michael Rothstein, 35th Fighter Wing commander, shortly after arriving at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Feb. 2, 2011. General Field is the senior U.S. military representative in Japan. The general's visit to Misawa is part of a Pacific Air Forces tour in which he will learn more about US-Japanese operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Russell McBride/Released)
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USFJ, 5th AF CC visits Misawa
Posted 2/7/2011 Updated 2/7/2011
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by Tech. Sgt. Kelly White
35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
2/7/2011 - MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- The U.S. Forces Japan and 5th Air Force commander addressed a multi-service audience of about 600 service members at Misawa Air Base Feb. 4, 2010, during his first visit to the base since taking command in October.
Lt. Gen. Burton M. Field opened his speech thanking Misawa members for serving at this time in American history.
"Most of you have joined since 9/11, so you joined the military of a nation at war - knowing full-well that's what you were doing," he said.
"Since that time, most have had the opportunity to serve in Afghanistan or Iraq, and if not, I'm sure you will be afforded that opportunity," General Field added. "So, I want to thank you, explicitly, from the bottom of my heart because it's an incredibly impressive thing for someone to do that."
General Field also praised service members for bringing honor to the military through excellence and sacrifice.
"There's no other group of people on the planet who can pick up their entire operation, move it somewhere else and operate without missing a beat," the general said.
"It's a remarkable achievement, and it's recognized," he added. "The American public invariably considers the U.S. military at the top of its most respected institutions -- above congress and the clergy.
"What is it about us that deserves that kind of respect and admiration," he asked.
"It's how good we are at our job and how willing we are to get it done," he said.
Accomplishing the mission, whether here at Misawa or elsewhere, U.S. service members never know when they'll be called upon to do extraordinary things downrange, he explained.
"Yet time and time again, we see that kind of performance from all of our military," he said.
General Field explained that while training contributes to the military's success, it's ultimately character, leadership and members' caring for one another that matters most.
"Our military training is a big part of it," he said. "When someone comes in to replace you or me, they have about the same skills and confidence level to get the job done.
"The second thing is fortitude within us," he explained. "It comes from the same place that allowed you to volunteer to serve your country at a time of war.
"When we put on the uniform of our service, we expect a lot of ourselves.
"As leaders, it's about knowing who your people are," said the general. "Every one of you has a story of why you're here, and every one of you deserves and has earned everyone else's respect.
"To really care for people - to really lead - you have to learn the stories of the people you serve," he said. "Leadership - it's not about how many people you get to be in charge of, it's about how many people you serve. And, to serve them you have to know their stories."
General Field said leading in this way is the key to grooming today's young service members to become tomorrows' military leaders.
"At the end of the day, that's what we're about - getting the job done the best we can and making sure the people coming after us are better than we are."
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