CMSAF Cody visits Minneapolis Reservists

by Paul Zadach
934th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

11/6/2014 - MINNEAPOLIS ST PAUL AIR RESERVE STATION -- Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody visited Airmen of the 934th Airlift Wing and listened to some of their concerns during the Unit Training Assembly Nov. 1-2.  The chief and his wife, Chief Master Sgt. (Ret) Athena Cody, conducted an Airmen's Call and visited work centers where they met one-on-one with many 934th Reservists.

Cody explained that their visit was planned to coincide with the UTA weekend so they would be able to meet the greatest number of Reservists while visiting the 934th. "On behalf of Secretary James, General Welsh and the two of us, we are just here to thank you,"  Cody said as he kicked off the Airmen's Call Saturday.  "We want to thank you for everything you do, everything you will do, and we want you to extend that appreciation and gratitude to your families.  I didn't realize until today that you come here from thirty-three different states to serve our country, so it's important that we get out to talk to you to see what's on your mind and to just say thank you."

Airmen brought up their concerns about the downsizing of the Air Force and what that means to the future of the reserve.  Cody emphasized that there are four components to the Air Force: Active, Reserve, Guard and civilian.  "There is one Air Force, with four components. We are busy, we are not going to be less busy in the future but we are going to get smaller," he said. "That's what we're doing, and it's hard.  It's hard on you, and it's hard on the families, but it is the reality."

"By the end of the year we will have evaluated 80 percent of all the mission sets of the U.S. Air Force.   After we are done we will make some real decisions about where we will put missions.  There are some missions that better align with the Reserve component, so it makes sense to put more of the balance of these missions into the reserve so we have more capacity for the nation," he explained.  "I would be excited to be in the Reserve today knowing that the Secretary and Chief of Staff have publicly stated that they are looking to move as much of the right missions to the reserve component."

The Air Force today is the smallest since its inception in 1947.  Cody pointed out that at the height of World War II there were nearly 2.2 million Airmen in all components and at the end of 2015 there will be less than 500,000.  "In the last 20 years we have not grown one Airman, yet we are more globally engaged than we have ever been in the history of our country.  We are in the longest sustained combat operation in the history of the United States.  That is you, the ones who put the uniform on to serve this country, and it's your families who fought and sacrificed along with you."

After spending two days with the men and women of the 934th Airlift Wing, Cody said, "I came in here with a great impression of the Air Force Reserve and this visit just validated that impression.  I look at our Air Force as one Air Force: Active, Guard, Reserve and civilian Airmen.  They are impressive all over the globe; it's impressive what we do all over the globe.  Every time we get out and visit that is just further validated."