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ACC commander visits Team Shaw

U.S. Air Force Gen. Mike Hostage, commander of Air Combat Command, shakes hands with Kelly Jost, wife of Col. Stephen Jost, 20th Fighter Wing commander here Aug. 20. Hostage met with Team Shaw leaders and Airmen to discussion the mission and their concerns during his visit here.  (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tabatha Zarrella/Released)

U.S. Air Force Gen. Mike Hostage, commander of Air Combat Command, shakes hands with Kelly Jost, wife of Col. Stephen Jost, 20th Fighter Wing commander here Aug. 20. Hostage met with Team Shaw leaders and Airmen to discussion the mission and their concerns during his visit here. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tabatha Zarrella/Released)

U.S. Air Force Gen. Mike Hostage, commander of Air Combat Command, shakes hands with Team Shaw leaders before a meeting at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Aug. 20, 2014. Hostage met with Team Shaw leaders and Airmen to discussion the mission and their concerns during his visit here.  (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tabatha Zarrella/Released)

U.S. Air Force Gen. Mike Hostage, commander of Air Combat Command, shakes hands with Team Shaw leaders before a meeting at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Aug. 20, 2014. Hostage met with Team Shaw leaders and Airmen to discussion the mission and their concerns during his visit here. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tabatha Zarrella/Released)

U.S. Air Force Gen. Mike Hostage, commander of Air Combat Command, speaks with members of Team Shaw during an all-call at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Aug. 20, 2014. During the all-call Hostage discussed the top issues on Airmen’s minds. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tabatha Zarrella/Released)

U.S. Air Force Gen. Mike Hostage, commander of Air Combat Command, speaks with members of Team Shaw during an all-call at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Aug. 20, 2014. During the all-call Hostage discussed the top issues on Airmen’s minds. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tabatha Zarrella/Released)

U.S. Air Force Gen. Mike Hostage, commander of Air Combat Command, speaks with members of Team Shaw during an all-call at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Aug. 20, 2014. Hostage opened the floor for questions so Airmen could express their concerns. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tabatha Zarrella/Released)

U.S. Air Force Gen. Mike Hostage, commander of Air Combat Command, speaks with members of Team Shaw during an all-call at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Aug. 20, 2014. Hostage opened the floor for questions so Airmen could express their concerns. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tabatha Zarrella/Released)

U.S. Air Force Gen. Mike Hostage, commander of Air Combat Command answers Airmen’s questions during an all-call at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Aug. 20, 2014. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tabatha Zarrella/Released)

U.S. Air Force Gen. Mike Hostage, commander of Air Combat Command answers Airmen’s questions during an all-call at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Aug. 20, 2014. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tabatha Zarrella/Released)

U.S. Air Force Gen. Mike Hostage, commander of Air Combat Command, replies to a question from Tech. Sgt. Frank Miller III, 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs photojournalist, during breakfast at the Chief Master Sgt. Emerson Williams dining facility at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Aug. 21, 2014. Hostage attended the open forum to discuss topics on the minds of Airmen here. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tabatha Zarrella/Released)

U.S. Air Force Gen. Mike Hostage, commander of Air Combat Command, replies to a question from Tech. Sgt. Frank Miller III, 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs photojournalist, during breakfast at the Chief Master Sgt. Emerson Williams dining facility at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Aug. 21, 2014. Hostage attended the open forum to discuss topics on the minds of Airmen here. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tabatha Zarrella/Released)

U.S. Air Force Gen. Mike Hostage, commander of Air Combat Command, and Maj. Gen. H.D. Polumbo Jr., Ninth Air Force commander, depart the Chief Master Sgt. Emerson Williams dining facility at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Aug. 21, 2014. During a visit to Shaw, Hostage reiterated the mission of ACC; to provide combat airpower to America's warfighters. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tabatha Zarrella/Released)

U.S. Air Force Gen. Mike Hostage, commander of Air Combat Command, and Maj. Gen. H.D. Polumbo Jr., Ninth Air Force commander, depart the Chief Master Sgt. Emerson Williams dining facility at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., Aug. 21, 2014. During a visit to Shaw, Hostage reiterated the mission of ACC; to provide combat airpower to America's warfighters. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Tabatha Zarrella/Released)

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- Gen. Mike Hostage, commander of Air Combat Command, met with members of Team Shaw here Aug. 20 and 21.

During his visit, Hostage spoke with Ninth Air Force, U.S. Air Forces Central Command and 20th Fighter Wing senior leaders to discuss current and future Air Force challenges. He also met with the units' personnel to share information and field questions, before joining Airmen for an all-call and breakfast.

In the all-call, Hostage recognized the challenging times the Air Force is experiencing and voiced his plan to visit each ACC base to ensure he and his staff were aware and prepared to address the key concerns of Airmen and leaders throughout the command.

"There are hard choices we have to make to ensure we build the right force," said Hostage. "We will need to maintain our charge to produce combat air power to the highest degree we can with the resources Congress gives us."

Master Sgt. Christine Herrera, 20th Fighter Wing Judge Advocate law office superintendent said the general's perspective reinforced a lot for her.

"This is more than just a job. As Airmen we are expected to do more," said Master Sgt. Christine Herrera, 20th Fighter Wing Judge Advocate law office superintendent. "Though these reductions hurt, hopefully they will ultimately strengthen our force."