Air Force Chief of Staff visits Idaho Air National Guard

by Lt. Col. Gary A. Daniel
124th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

5/7/2014 - BOISE, Idaho -- Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh and his wife Betty touched down here May 2 to speak with nearly 900 Airmen of the 124th Fighter Wing at Gowen Field here.

Welsh arrived after spending the past day and a half visiting Mountain Home Air Force Base.

"We were pleased to welcome Gen. Welsh to Gowen Field to visit with our Air National Guard personnel, tour our world-class facility and speak with elected leaders," said Air Force Maj. Gen. Gary L. Sayler, Idaho Adjutant General.

Airmen from the Idaho ANG briefed Welsh on the current status of the Guard and how it accomplishes its current federal and state missions.

Welsh then took the stage in an aircraft hangar flanked by two of the unit's Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft. He began by describing a few key components that help make the Air Force successful: pride, communication, and caring more.

"Everybody in this room has a story," said Weldh. "It's a remarkable story. Some of them are inspirational. Some of them are a little sad. But each one is unique. I encourage you to learn the stories."

Welsh addressed the fiscal constraints on future Air Force operations and on the Airmen who perform them.

At the conclusion, he opened the floor to questions. Tech. Sgt. Michelle Thompson asked about the likelihood of members from the 124th Fighter Wing and the 366th Fighter Wing at Mountain Home Air Force Base "associating" their units in efforts to assist budget cuts.

Welsh said he believes that there is room for discussion, and now planners must look to the best way of doing it.

Welsh was born in San Antonio, Texas, and is a graduate of the Air Force Academy. He entered the Air Force in 1976 and currently serves as the Air Force's Senior Uniformed Officer accountable for more than 690,000 active duty, guard, reserve and civilian members that are currently serving both stateside and overseas. Welsh has flown numerous aircraft; including the A-10--flown by the Idaho Air National Guard, with more than 3,300 hours of flight.

Col. Tim Marsano and Senior Airman Cassie Morlock contributed to this coverage.