HomeNewsArticle Display


Redirecting...

AF chief of staff shares vision with Andersen AFB Airmen

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Zachary Bumpus
  • 36th Wing Public Affairs
ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam (AFNS) --  Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. David L. Goldfein, and his wife Dawn, visited Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, Feb. 7 and 8, 2018.

Goldfein and his wife met with service members and spouses to get a firsthand look at how they accomplish and support Andersen AFB’s mission. Goldfein spoke about the diverse air combat assets on Andersen AFB and the role they play in the defense of the Indo-Pacific region.

“Our job in the U.S. military is to be ready,” Goldfein said. “Every moment counts and we must do everything we can. It’s our readiness for that is our greatest deterrent.”

Focusing on the squadron as the heart of Air Force readiness, Goldfein emphasized the continued need to empower unit leaders at all levels in order to ensure mission success.

“Squadrons are the absolute heartbeat of our Air Force,” Goldfein said. “It’s where Airmen arrive when they come from tech school, where we teach them what it means to be an Airman and it’s where we generate readiness and innovation. I trust our squadron command teams to be able to make the mission happen, if we can just give them the resources and get out of the way.”

While at Andersen AFB, Goldfein toured the flightline, met with aviators and support Airmen and viewed a demonstration of the agile combat employment capabilities of the 36th Contingency Response Group.

As Goldfein toured the operational side of Andersen AFB, his wife Dawn toured base support facilities and met with key spouses whom Goldfein described as an integral part of a successful command team.

“When I talk about squadrons, I say squadron command teams,” he said. “Because it’s a commander, a senior (noncommissioned officer) and their spouses who work together to take care of the mission and the people who are assigned to it.”

The visit culminated with an all-call with service members. Goldfein expressed his gratitude for all of Andersen AFB Airmen and supporting mission partners for their contributions to readiness in the Indo-Pacific.

“Let me say to each of you, thank you,” Goldfein said. “Thank you for what you are doing, thank you for what your families are doing. This is as important a time as there has ever been to serve in uniform and I can’t be more proud to serve with you.”