CSAF visits Warriors of the North

Published March 15, 2007
By Senior Airman J. Paul Croxon
319th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- The highest-ranking officer in the Air Force visited the Warriors of the North, March 13 during a visit to North Dakota bases.

During a breakfast with Airmen, and an interview with local reporters, Gen. T. Michael Moseley talked about the future of the Air Force, and more specifically, the future of the base in regards to the KC-X program. He also spoke about the emerging unmanned aerial vehicle mission and a warrior ethos for Airmen.

The general said the number one procurement program for the Air Force is the KC-X tanker. "Everything we do, whether it's disaster relief, humanitarian relief, global vigilance, global strike or global mobility, the thing that makes you 'global' is the jet tanker," he told reporters.

General Moseley noted the procurement of aircraft was strategic in nature and takes years to come to fruition through many steps. However, he is certain what the first three steps will be.

"The first delivery of airplanes will go to Edwards [AFB, Calif.]," he said. "Then the first delivery of operational airplanes need to go to the schoolhouse at Altus [AFB, Okla.] so you can build a syllabus for the maintainers, pilots and boomers."

The next step is to bed-down the first operational squadron at a wing. According to General Moseley, Grand Forks AFB is being considered as one of those wings. However, a future tanker mission here is far from certain.

What is more of a certainty is the future UAV mission here. General Moseley said he wants a northern-tier UAV base as well as one in the Mediterranean and Pacific. Grand Forks fits the bill, not only due to its geographic location, but also because of air traffic control considerations.

"UAVs are interesting critters, relative to working with air traffic controllers and working with airspace, being able to get in and out of places," he said. Grand Forks AFB's lack of urban encroachment simplifies many of those problems.

The bigger picture of the base and the future of the Air Force wasn't lost on the Airman breakfast club.

"I believe General Moseley is a good representation of the Air Force and exemplifies what I think our Chief of Staff should be doing in his position," said Airman 1st Class Chad Kellum who was one of the Airmen at breakfast with the general. "General Moseley provided both positive and beneficial feedback concerning today's Airmen. He brought his perspective on matters above our pay grade and related them to what concerns us as Airmen."