COMUSAFE visits Spangdahlem, discusses CAF restructure

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kali L. Gradishar
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany --  Gen. Roger A. Brady, U.S. Air Forces in Europe commander, visited Spangdahlem Air Base Jan. 8 to emphasize the important role each Airman fulfills in supporting the mission both at home station and in the deployed environment. He also took time to discuss various issues affecting Sabers.

One such issue the general discussed was the possible Combat Air Forces restructuring plan, a proposal to retire legacy fighters to fund a smaller and more capable force, as well as redistribute people for higher priority missions. The affects, should the plan be approved by Congress, would impact Spangdahlem aircraft and personnel.

"The CAF restructuring plan is driven by a need for us to free up funds to develop more capability largely in the CAF itself, which has to do with new weapons, missiles and small diameter bombs," the USAFE commander explained.

"What it amounts to is basically a squadron of F-16 Fighting Falcons out of Spangdahlem. So rather than having two squadrons of 21 primary assigned aircraft units, you will have one 24-PAA squadron in addition to the A-10 Thunderbolt II squadron," General Brady said.

The plan would include a possible reduction in Spangdahlem manpower authorizations by approximately 450, and 18 F-16s would be removed. Under the proposed plan, the Air Force could see a cost savings of about $355 million in fiscal 2010. The Air Force would then be able to invest most of those funds in advanced capability modifications to remaining fighters and bombers.

Gen. Brady commended Col. Tip Wight, 52nd Fighter Wing commander, and the Saber team for their hard work and dedication during the expected transition.

"Col. Wight and other leaders here are working to make the move as smooth as possible," General Brady said.

The USAFE commander also discussed the significance of Spangdahlem and the continuation of its mission in the Eifel region, as well as the importance of the 52nd FW mission and its geographically-separated units.

"There is a lot going on at Spangdahlem, which includes the 52nd FW and the Air Mobility Command missions the base supports," he said. "Spangdahlem will continue to be important, both as a location for fighter aircraft as well as for mobility ... but as we continue to look at where we have mission capability throughout Europe, Spangdahlem will be an important part of that plan."

"We have some capability here that we don't have other places ... (Sabers) have repeatedly and continually demonstrated incredible combat capability down range. They are also extraordinarily important when they are home for partner building here, for assurance to the alliance, the reassurance of our allies and the U.S. commitment to NATO."

You've got the full range of fighter activity, you've got support to an important mobility hub, you've got partnering with our allies, and Spangdahlem has taken part in the air policing mission in the Baltics. Spang continues to be an important part of all the major things we undertake here in USAFE," he added.

The force behind every 52nd FW success is the Sabers who support the mission, the general noted.

"Every Airman has a skill that is critical to what the team does," the general said. "We have very smart Airmen who want to fix things and make things better. It's what Airmen do. We will continue to be the most respected air and space force on the planet. It starts with the individual, but it quickly expands to the Airman next to you, to the flight, squadron, group and wing. We have put together an incredible team here at the 52nd Fighter Wing."
Before departing Spangdahlem, General Brady held a standing-room only briefing to thank Spangdahlem Airmen for their contributions here and down range.

"Every Airman has an important piece of the USAFE, U.S. European Command, NATO and Air Force mission," General Brady said. "I want more than anything, every Airman to understand that they are an important cog in that wheel. They are an important part of what we do here."