Commander, U.S. Strategic Command talks deterrence

by Staff Sgt. Alexandra M. Boutte
509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

3/13/2014 - WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo.  -- U.S. Navy Adm. Cecil D. Haney, commander of U.S. Strategic Command, visited Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., March 10 to observe the mission here and share his thoughts with base personnel on issues facing the command and how the B-2 is important to STRATCOM's mission and goals.

Haney began his visit by having breakfast with company grade officers here at Whiteman. He fielded questions from the group of lieutenants and captains, discussing current issues in the Air Force and describing the success of Whiteman's deterrence and assurance mission, specifically mentioning the impact of the B-2's participation in Exercise FOAL EAGLE in March 2013. He also discussed the importance of integrity at all levels.

Losing one's integrity does not happen all at once, Haney said. Instead, people typically lose their integrity as part of a process. He said one small decision after another eventually erodes one's integrity, and developing personal guidelines and expectations is key to preventing that from happening.

Haney also visited Airmen on the job, receiving a tour of the B-2, as well as various munitions the aircraft would drop in combat situations.

At lunch, Haney asked Airmen about their concerns and ideas for improving working and living conditions. He also stressed the importance of their contributions to our nation's nuclear deterrence mission, and stressed the same message of integrity that he had emphasized at breakfast.

"Do not sacrifice your integrity for anything," Haney said. "Integrity is the key to success."

He ended the lunch by posing the question, "Who is your mentor and who are you mentoring?"

During a session with Whiteman's officer corps, Haney reiterated that the B-2 plays a key role in the global strike mission, and the combined efforts of the various other USSTRATCOM missions are what make each individual mission collectively strong. He stressed the importance of the nuclear triad and the B-2's unique capability to deter and assure threats now and in the future.

USSTRATCOM relies on various task forces for the execution of its global missions, to include space and cyberspace operations, missile defense, global command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, global strike and strategic deterrence, and combating weapons of mass destruction.

Haney's final challenge to Whiteman Airmen - never stop learning.