18th Air Force leadership visits Fairchild

Published April 30, 2012
By Senior Airman Benjamin Stratton
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Charting a path to continued success during uncertain strategic and fiscal environments was a key theme shared by the 18th Air Force commander during a visit here April 24 to 26.

Lt. Gen. Mark Ramsay, 18th Air Force commander, accompanied by his wife, Patty, and Chief Master Sgt. Jeff Williams, 18th Air Force command chief, traveled from Scott AFB, Ill., to visit the command's two Washington state based wings this week.

"Our mission is to fuel the fight, deliver hope and save lives," Ramsay said during an 'all call' with wing personnel.

The general, a command pilot with more than 4,700 flying hours on 10 airframes, was once stationed at Fairchild, however, this was his first visit as the wing's Numbered Air Force commander.

After joining Fairchild's annual award winners for breakfast and visiting with Airmen in their respective work centers, dormitories and other quality of life locations (including the newly constructed fitness center) Ramsay spoke with hundreds of 92nd and 141st Air Refueling Wing Airmen at the all call.

Among the questions and concerns asked by Airmen were how the new strategic defense guidance would affect operations at Fairchild and when the Air Force would decide which bases will receive the new KC-46.

"We need to remain ready for whatever comes our way," he said. "As we increase our focus on the Pacific theater, Fairchild's air mobility capabilities will remain vital to our continued success."

The general added that he expected information on the location of KC-46's training and first operational bases to be made public by the end of the year, with initial operational capability by 2017.

Referring to the wing's current platform, the KC-135 Stratotanker, Ramsay said the plane would fly for another 30 years.

"Even after the KC-46 comes to service," he said. "The KC-135 will remain our air refueling backbone and will continue to be called upon for several decades."

The general also stressed that Fairchild Airmen needed to remain prepared and vigilant as the Air Force reshapes for the future.

"We're drawing down our forces worldwide and especially in Afghanistan and Iraq," he added. "Now is the time to make yourself as deep and broad as possible. Continue to perform your vital role in our Air Force and take full advantage of the great education programs offered today."

Ramsay said that, "We are reshaping our Air Force based on the new strategic defense guidance, and that we will reduce some of our capacity while retaining our spectrum of capabilities based on fewer overall resources for defense.

"This new defense strategy drives how we organize, train and equip our Total Force," he said. "The cuts to defense spending mandated last year where matched to the new strategy, and that is why we are witnessing the changes to our force structure rolled out in the President's 2013 budget request to Congress."

However, change is nothing new to the Air Force as every era brings its own difficulties to overcome.

"When we look at history, about every 20 years we have undergone a change in strategy or resources. We are in a period of change in national direction in both at this time. We have adapted to major shifts before, and this cycle will produce yet more shifts to deal with the ever-changing global security environment."

Ramsay said the Air Force's job is to support national leadership and combatant commanders by providing them with the means to execute national security in air, space and cyberspace. His focus is aimed squarely at air mobility force readiness and execution.

"We have the best military in the world in five domains: air, land, sea, cyber, and space," Ramsay said. "In the future, we are going to have fewer resources. But we will continue fulfilling our mission as Air Mobility Airmen in support of our nation."

Ramsay served as the operations officer and commander of the now-retired 98th Air Refueling Squadron here from June 1995 to July 1998.