SOUTHWEST ASIA –
Deployed Airmen need modern aircraft and equipment to continue to effectively prosecute the Global War on Terror, said the commander of Air Mobility Command during a recent tour of Middle East air bases.
Gen. Arthur Lichte was making his first trip downrange since taking command of AMC in September.
Despite the rigors of operating and maintaining aircraft more than 40 years old, deployed Airmen continue to raise the bar while playing a vital role in Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom, General Lichte said.
"Our people continue to amaze me," he said. "Young Airmen are constantly coming up with more and better ideas on how to do the mission more effectively and using techniques from Air Force Smart Operations 21 to make working in the Air Force better."
While dedicated Airmen are able to accomplish the mission with new ideas and procedures, General Lichte said he owes it to his Airmen to make sure they have everything they need.
"One of the things that I lose sleep about are Airmen flying into harm's way," he said. "We need to modernize our fleet to make sure that none of our Airmen deploy without being prepared and without the proper equipment. We're flying into some very bad neighborhoods."
Airmen from General Lichte's command are doing air refueling, aeromedical evacuation and airlift missions, and they've been doing those without interruption since the first Gulf War. The general was very impressed with the mission-capable rates that his Airmen are achieving while working in less-than-ideal conditions for such long periods.
"Producing mission capable rates of more than 97 percent in the hot, sandy environment of a desert is absolutely amazing," he said. "To fly 40- or 50-year-old airplanes takes dedication and extra tender, loving care. Crew chiefs spend a lot of time on the ground to make sure aircraft are perfect when they launch. It's a tribute to maintainers and aircrews who keep them flying and get them home safely."
General Lichte closed by saying his visit here helped him better understand current issues Airmen are facing and gave him a chance to thank them first hand.
"We're saving lives every day and playing a vital role in the War on Terror," he said. "For me to see it first hand, (that) drove home our involvement. I have the highest respect and admiration to everyone over here."