COMUSAFE visits 48 FW


ROYAL AIR FORCE HONINGTON, England – Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, U.S. Air Forces in Europe commander, and Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Diola, 56th Rescue Squadron pararescueman, respond to a personnel recovery exercise, Jan. 18, 2012. The exercise exhibited the capabilities of the 56th RQS to Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, U.S. Air Forces in Europe commander. Welsh, his wife Betty, Chief Master Sgt. David W. Williamson, USAFE command chief, and his wife Mary visited RAF Lakenheath to express their gratitude for the hard work and dedication of the Liberty warriors and to discuss upcoming changes in today’s Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Tiffany M. Deuel)

COMUSAFE visits 48 FW

by 2nd Lt. Lyndsey Horn
48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

1/23/2012 - ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- General Mark A. Welsh III, U.S. Air Forces in Europe commander, visited Airmen of the 48th Fighter Wing here, Jan. 18.

The main purpose of his visit was to inform wing members of command priorities, define the state of command, while taking the time to get to know Airmen stationed at the 48 FW.

"The most important thing you can do is be ready," he said. "I can't tell you what the next scenario is going to be. However, our Nation's leaders assume when we deploy, our forces are ready and good at what they do, as good as they have always been in the past."

Looking toward future operations and despite the fact the last troops left Iraq last month, the 48 FW can still expect to remain busy. When asked what's next, Welsh emphasized the rational of basing U.S. forces in Europe and the rapid deployment capability they provide.

"The intent of forward-based forces is to provide an option to the president of the United States to respond to a contingency situation," said Welsh. "If you want to be able to react with a no-fly zone or kinetic capability from the air within 72 to 96 hours, you have to have forces forward deployed."

Also, during his time on base, Welsh observed the wing's mission and capabilities first hand by visiting the flying squadrons, attending lunch with enlisted Airmen, meeting with deployed spouses, and hosting enlisted and officer calls.

Welsh also answered Airmen's concerns about the future of the command amidst military restructuring initiatives.

There are discussions occurring at every level about budget realities and restructuring, he said. But those are not going to alter the fact that this "will be the best Air Force in the world in the future, just as it is today," Welsh said. "That's not going to change."