AFGSC commander visits Team Whiteman

by Staff Sgt. Nick Wilson
509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

1/31/2014 - WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- Lt. Gen. Stephen Wilson, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command, and Maj. Gen. Scott Vander Hamm, 8th Air Force commander, visited Airmen at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., Jan. 24, 2014, to congratulate them on a job well done during a recent Nuclear Surety Inspection and address current issues affecting the Air Force.

Wilson's tour began with a visit to the Professional Development Center, where he met with staff sergeants in the NCO Professional Enhancement Course and senior airmen attending Airman Leadership School.

During both visits, Wilson spoke about the importance of core values, the significance of the nuclear mission, force management and enlisted performance reports.

Wilson also visited the 509th Medical Group, where he was briefed by Airmen from clinics that played a major role in the recent Nuclear Surety Inspection.

The 509th Security Forces Squadron's combat arms section provided Wilson a tour and familiarization with the M4, M9 and M240B, while the 509th Civil Engineer Squadron's snow removal and heavy equipment section demonstrated their scope of operations.

Wilson concluded his visit with a base-wide all-call, where he congratulated Airmen on a job well done during the NSI, provided Team Whiteman with his four priorities for the command and encouraged Airmen to grow as leaders.

During the all-call, Wilson also discussed having a safe, secure and effective nuclear force, how Airmen play a key role in winning the fight and how supervisors can build and empower the team.

"When we say 'safe, secure and effective,' the American public really demands that," Wilson said.

Wilson called upon Airmen at all levels, especially supervisors, to "build the bench;" that is, focus on training those under their command to be proficient not only as technical experts in their field, but also as leaders.

"Congratulations on a world-class inspection," Wilson said.