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Acting SecAF visits Team Dover

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jeremy Larlee
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Acting Secretary of the Air Force Eric K. Fanning visited here Sept. 5, to get a tour of Team Dover's capabilities and to speak to base personnel at an all-call.

Fanning said Dover was one of the first bases he visited in April after switching from the Department of the Navy to his current position. His role that day was to witness a dignified transfer; however, during this visit saw more of the base and its mobility mission..

"The visit has been great," he said. "Everybody knows how important a role Dover plays in the Air Force mission. I came here specifically to get a tour of the mobility capability and to visit the mortuary affairs."

Fanning closed out his visit by speaking to more than 700 base personnel. The dominant subject of the all-call was the current fiscal budget crunch; a situation Fanning said is unprecedented during his career.

"It's a crazy time in Washington and I have never experienced anything like it," he said. "Sequestration is the most stunningly disruptive thing I have ever seen."

According to the Acting SecAF, Air Force leadership is being proactive and making the right decisions for the future now.

"We are trying to get the Air Force to some 'new normal' as quickly as possible," he said, "so we can get back to a feeling of stability and focus on the mission."

Fanning said one item he doesn't believe will be revisited is furloughs. He said the repercussions from that budget cutting move were felt throughout the Air Force.

"We broke faith with our civilian work force," he said. "The silver lining is there has never been a bigger appreciation of our civilians. In the six days of furloughs, the impact of their absence was felt substantially."

Fanning has learned a lot about the Air Force since switching over in April, to include the unique capabilities only the Air Force has and provides to the other services so they can accomplish their missions. With more than $18 billion worth of equipment on the ground in Afghanistan, the Army will lean heavily on Team Dover to recapture those assets through its retrograde mission.

The Acting SecAF said the Air Force does a lot more than just assist the other services.

"Some people would say the Air Force is just a supporting service, but it is a very much a kinetic service," he said. "When bad guys are hiding we find them. When they are moving, we see them. Finally, very often when the decision is made that they need to be punished; it's the Air Force that does the job."

Fanning discussed the issue of sexual assault.

"I know there is a lot of fatigue on this subject, but if you see the reports, you would know it is a serious subject and there is a good reason we keep talking about it," he said. "We are being held to a higher standard and we should be. Too many Airmen do not feel secure in reporting something that happens to them."

Fanning ended the all-call acknowledging Team Dover for the hard work they do on a daily basis.

"Thank you for staying focused on the mission," he said. "It is inspiring to see that even with all the craziness going on, you stay focused on the mission and take pride in doing great work for your nation."