CSAF visits combat airpower hub downrange

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jennifer Gregoire
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing
Balad Air Base, Iraq --  An Aviano Airman deployed to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Balad Air Base, Iraq, was hand-picked to share dinner with the Air Force's top Airman, Gen. T. Michael Moseley, Feb. 4. 

The service chief was visiting the combat airpower hub as part of his tour to interact face-to-face with Airmen, sharing his vision, and listening to their feedback and questions. 

Just the day before, Airman 1st Class Stephen Tyler, an F-16 weapons load crew member with the 510th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, had helped launch his deployed commander on a combat sortie. The Airman's professionalism and enthusiasm impressed his commander, Brig. Gen. Robin Rand, and earned the pilot's nod to join General Moseley at the dinner, for which there was space for only 12 Airmen. 

During his visit to Balad, General Moseley toured the wing and held an Airmen's Call.
The general cited terrorist attacks over the past three decades and how the wing's mission in Balad is critical to defending the United States. "This is not a social experiment - these people want us dead. They hate everything America stands for."
General Moseley explained his job was making sure the Air Force was trained and equipped the best way possible to fight the Global War on Terror and answer the nation's call. 

Vitally important for a lethal Air Force is the right Air Expeditionary Force Cycle - which is currently set at 120-days for most Airmen. Air Force wide, about 38 percent of Airmen are deployed longer than 179 days. At the 332nd AEW, 53 percent of deployments are the standard 120-days and six percent are less. 

"Do we go back to 90-day rotations? When we deploy an aviation package for 120 days we need a lot more equipment and people because of the increased maintenance the aircraft needs in those environments. That means we need more services, security forces and other support, but now we've just made our footprint bigger," said General Moseley. 

There are about 10,000 Airmen who are not able to medically deploy which taxes those who are deployable more than their fair share, said the chief of staff. "That's a big number. I'm not worried about the 5,000 who are pregnant or just broke their leg. It's the others who develop unknown ailments or back pain right before their deployment that concerns me." 

General Moseley said the goal is for the Air Force to have 100 percent of their Airmen assigned to an AEF bucket. 

Before leaving, the general shared that the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen will continue when the Air Force Reserve Command's F-22 unit stands up at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, under the flag of a squadron from the original 332nd Fighter Group. The F-22 is the most modern fighter aircraft in the Air Force inventory and will eventually be deployed to fly in combat. 

"I joined the Air Force to do my part in serving my country and protecting the citizens of the United States," said Airman Tyler. "I'm glad I had the opportunity to deploy here in support of the Global War on Terror, and I'm proud to serve with the people around me."