General Carlson speaks of Air Force's greatest assets - Airmen

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Mike Meares
  • 96th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  While the war and budget shortfalls are top priorities right now, the commander of Air Force Materiel Command is equally focused on another valuable asset -- today's Airmen.

When it comes to the future, Gen. Bruce Carlson is most concerned about his people. During a two-day visit to Eglin AFB in September, General Carlson talked about the unprecedented need to recapitalize the force efficiently through programs like Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century, or AFSO21.

"The idea of AFSO21 is simply to get rid of stuff we don't need to be doing or to do stuff better that we have been doing," he said.

AFSO21 initiatives are important because there is a great need to limit wasted effort and unnecessary work, the general said.

"We have to recapitalize the Air Force," he said. "The Air Force (inventory) is getting old. The airplanes we flew when I was young have now been at war for the past 16 to 17 years. They weren't designed for that."

The general pointed out that Air Force mainstays like B-52s, C-130s, KC-135s, F-16s and A-10s are decades old and overdue for replacement. Instead, the Air Force has been repairing and holding on to them over the years.

"We can fight and win the war we are in right now with that set of weapons, but not the next war," he said. "So we've got to figure out a way to buy new weapons."

The Global War on Terror on fronts like Afghanistan, Iraq and U. S. soil has taken a toll on military budgets. Air Force officials have made attempts internally with programs like AFSO21 to come up with the necessary funds to re-capitalize the force. However, sustained success starts with the people.

"People are our most important and most valuable resource," said General Carlson. "They're the only resource we have that gets more and more valuable every day."

Based on experience, a staff sergeant is more valuable than a senior airman and will be more valuable as a technical sergeant when the time comes. A resource like the F-22 loses value the older it gets, whereas people gain value, he said.

"It would be nice if we could hold on to as many of those people as possible," he said. "So looking for efficient, effective, less costly, less time-consuming ways to do things is the way to go."

The value of the people who do the mission day-in and day-out is the driving force for taking care of them. The AFMC Wingman program is an initiative to ensure Airmen are taking care of each other. General Carlson liked the fact that Eglin has scheduled a Wingman Day in conjunction with AFMC's scheduled Wingman Day Nov. 9. He was also impressed with the wallet-sized Wingman Boldface cards handed out to Eglin Airmen as a way to remind them they are wingmen everyday.

"Those cards are marvelous because they are a very visible reminder of that obligation you have to each other," he said. "We need to continue to be personal, to be open, to smile, be a friend and look people in the eye. If we do that then there will come a day when we won't have to have wingman cards anymore. It will be a more natural inclination for us."

According to the general, the Wingman program is a step in the right direction for Eglin AFB's future. In the next 12 to 24 months, Eglin AFB will undergo a facelift -- from the flight line and the skies to the family housing areas.

Base officials must figure out how to bed down the first F-35 Joint Strike Fighter base with the integrated maintenance and pilot training facility; bed down more than 2,200 special forces Soldiers; figure out how to execute $1 billion in military construction spending and how to rebuild military family housing.

"Eglin's plate is full," General Carlson said. "But you have great leadership and superb people. I haven't met anyone (here) who wasn't motivated, excited and eager to be on this team. I'm confident that all those challenges will be met and met well."

Despite these challenges, the general said he thinks it's a great time to be in service to the country.

"Your nation appreciates you," the general said. "When I came back from my service in Southeast Asia 30 plus years ago, I was told I couldn't wear my uniform east of the Philippines. Now when you walk through an airport with that uniform on, people will shake your hand or will hug you. Some will even buy you a drink. That's a marvelous thing; to be in the service of a nation that deeply appreciates you."