Article Display

SecAF visits Shaw AFB and Sumter, SC during ACC tour

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Keavy Rake
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James met with Ninth Air Force, U.S. Air Forces Central Command and 20th Fighter Wing Airmen Feb. 27 and 28 on the second stop of a three-base Air Combat Command immersion tour.

James visited Ninth Air Force headquarters where Maj. Gen. Jake Polumbo, Ninth Air Force commander, provided an in-depth look of the numbered air force mission. The secretary also visited Langley AFB, Va. and Moody AFB, Ga. during her ACC immersion. All three combat air force bases are under Polumbo's command.

Brig. Gen. John Dolan, U.S. AFCENT assistant deputy commander, and Col. Clay Hall, 20th FW commander, provided mission briefs on their respective commands before James toured the Weapons Standardization Facility to learn the about unique capabilities and weapons systems of the F-16CJ Fighting Falcon and the seamless Total Force integration the 20 FW experiences with Detachment 1 of the 482nd Operations Group.

Nearly 30 community leaders met with the SecAF during a dinner in Sumter, S.C., to discuss local support and Air Force priorities.

" As the only community Secretary James had a chance to visit during this trip, I believe the enduring partnership between Shaw Air Force Base and Sumter will be readily apparent and represent the broader support network of towns and cities throughout Ninth Air Force and Air Combat Command," said Polumbo.

James thanked city, county and state officials for their enduring support to the Airmen and Soldiers stationed here.

"I want to thank all of you (civic leaders) so much for your partnership and your support of our Air Force, our Army and all that you do for us," James said. "I've been hearing about you all through the day. You've been enormously helpful in many ways where we've asked for help and you've come through every single time. So thank you for your support."

James met with squadron commanders and senior enlisted leaders from the 20th FW. She culminated the visit with an all-call addressing approximately 2,500 Airmen on upcoming force structure and modernization decisions that preserve the minimum capabilities necessary to sustain current warfighting efforts, while investing in capabilities needed to dominate the battle space in the future.

"The entire fleet of A-10 Thunderbolt IIs will be retired overtime," the secretary announced. "This is going to begin next year in FY15 (Fiscal Year 2015) but it's going to take some time to get it done. We do think it's going to save us three-and-a half billion dollars by going forward with this retirement."

James also announced the retirement of the U-2, and that the Air Force will keep the Global Hawk because the U-2 would be a more expensive aircraft to maintain as it ages. Her third big announcement was regarding combat air patrols comprised of Predators and Reapers, the MQ-1 and MQ-9.

"We have a requirement for combatant commanders to have a certain number of combat air patrols," said James. "So under our budget, which will be announced next week, we are going to grow the number of our combat air patrols from 50 to 55" and not 65 as previously announced.

"It's an absolute increase over where we are today," the secretary stated. "It's just not as much of an increase as we projected a year or two ago."

James also stated that over time the MQ-1 Predator will be retired and the Air Force will have a full MQ-9 Reaper fleet.

James also answered Airmen's questions on force management programs and structure, their concerns about lack of funds for training and maintenance, and how future cuts could affect Wounded Warrior Project and other military family programs.

"We wanted our Airmen to hear from her, and she wanted to hear from them; what's on their minds, and what questions they have about their Air Force," Polumbo said. "This was a great opportunity for that to happen."