AFGSC commander visits Whiteman Airmen

by Capt. John Severns
509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

3/13/2013 - WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo.  -- Lt. Gen. James M. Kowalski, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, visited Whiteman Air Force Base this week to meet the Airmen charged with operating the nation's only B-2 force.

During his visit, Kowalski met face-to-face with Airmen at all levels, from the First Term Airman's Center to chiefs and commanders.

The general's first stop was a breakfast with 15 "unsung heroes," Airmen from across the 509th Bomb Wing who play a vital role in keeping the B-2 running, but due to their particular duties often miss out on the spotlight. The Airmen who ate with the general shared some stories, and afterward said that his visit was an opportunity to meet one of the Air Force's most senior leaders.

Tech. Sgt. Brandon Benton, a mission planner in the 509th Operations Support Squadron, was one of those Airmen.

"It was a chance for us to ask questions about a lot of issues that have been on everyone's mind lately," he said. "Tuition assistance was a big one, and he also talked about the nuclear force structure, the future of the command, and how the sequester is going to impact the Air Force."

Later in his visit, during an all-hands call, Kowalski spoke on a variety of topics, from the consequences of the budget sequestration to the continuing need for a robust strategic deterrent in the face of new global developments.

On the impact of the sequester, Kowalski was unambiguous about the impact of the $50-billion cut being levied across the Armed Services this year.

"There will absolutely be an impact on our readiness," he said. "The furloughs, in particular, will impact our mission, our communities, and just as importantly, the families of our civilian Airmen."

As a result of the budget sequester, Department of Defense civilians are expecting to see 22 discontinuous furlough days between April and the end of the fiscal year. This will result in approximately a 20% reduction in their salaries during that time period.

During the question and answer session, the general touched on a widely held concern - the fate of the Air Force's popular Tuition Assistance program. While the program is vital to helping Airmen achieve their educational goals, in an environment where civilian Airmen are forced to take a 20 percent pay cut, TA may simply be unsustainable.

Indeed, the general's words were prescient. The next day, the Air Force announced that Tuition Assistance was being suspended for the remainder of the fiscal year.

For much of his all-call, the general spoke about the continued necessity for nuclear deterrence.

"We seek a world with zero nuclear weapons, but as President Obama said [in his speech in Prague], as long as these weapons exist, we need to keep them safe, secure and effective."

The general also met with Airmen going through the First Term Airmen's Center as part of their acclimation to the Air Force. He spoke with them about some of the challenges they would face entering the Air Force in the midst of steep budget cutbacks, as well as the opportunities they would have as the next generation of America's Airmen.