Article Display

General Hostage visits 9th Air Force

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Ashley L. Gardner
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  Gen. Mike Hostage, Air Combat Command's commander, met with 9th Air Force Airmen Dec. 3rd and 4th.

During his visit, Hostage spoke with 9th Air Force senior leaders to discuss current and future Air Force challenges, as well as their roles' effects on 9th Air Force. He also met with the unit's entire staff to share information and field questions. Additionally, he joined enlisted members for breakfast and a question and answer session.

The general emphasized the Air Force's initiative to reset acceptable and unacceptable behavior among our Airmen.

Hostage, as well as the Air force recognize that there are some rough patches, but he said it's in plan to regrouping and re-gathering information to set a standard and make sure it's held throughout the service.

"I don't want anyone to walk into a workspace and grit their teeth because they are uncomfortable," said Hostage. "That's not the environment we want."

Hostage's stance reinforces U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh's Nov. 15, letter to Airmen.

"Our Total Air Force succeeds because of the professionalism and discipline of our Airmen," Welsh stated. "When a fellow Airman is sexually harassed or assaulted, it is devastating to the individual and the unit. It harms our friends and diminishes the bond among Airmen. It demoralizes families and severely degrades our mission."

Along with the new upcoming ideas on resetting the standards, he also assessed the 9th Air Force leadership. "I look for quality leadership. The enthusiasm and energy of a leader is evident in the staff's actions," explained Hostage."I go to listen to the leaders to see how connected they are to their Airmen."

As the general made his way around 9th Air Force, he received feedback from the Airmen with non-verbals just as much as verbals to help him connect with their perspective a little more by the end of his visit.