ACC commander stops by JBLE

by Senior Airman R. Alex Durbin
633rd Air Base Wing Public Affairs

3/19/2015 - JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. -- U.S. Air Force Gen. Hawk Carlisle, commander of Air Combat Command, and Chief Master Sgt. Steve McDonald, ACC command chief, along with their wives, visited Service members Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, March 13, 2015.

The group met with members of units across JBLE, including components of the 633rd Air Base Wing, 1st Fighter Wing, 192nd Fighter Wing and 733rd Mission Support Division, to experience the joint base's diverse missions firsthand while thanking the team for their hard work and dedication.

While headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, this event marked the first opportunity to see JBLE Airmen in action first hand for Carlisle, who assumed command of ACC in November 2014.

The group began the visit at the 1st and 192nd fighter wings, including the 1st Component Maintenance Squadron hush house, 1st Maintenance Squadron jet engine intermediate maintenance shop, Metals Technology shop and the Low Observable Section.

"Most people will see more jets flying than maintenance shops, so when [Carlisle] visits, we can show off the air power we provide the Air Force," said Master Sgt. Juan Trujillo, 1st MXS jet engine intermediate maintenance shop non-commissioned officer in charge. "This [visit] gave us the opportunity to let the general know that when America calls, the 1st Fighter Wing is there to answer."
During their time at the maintenance shops, the group witnessed the fusion of active-duty and Virginia Air National Guard forces working in support of the Total Force Integration initiative.

"192nd Fighter Wing Airmen arrived at Langley ten years ago to stand up two new endeavors -- the F-22 and the first-ever fighter TFI. Like any new undertaking, both were challenging but ultimately we have forged a partnership with the 1st Fighter Wing and achieved tremendous success," said Col. Robert Grey, 192nd FW commander. "As General Carlisle visited different areas of the base, he was met by Guardsmen and active duty Airmen working side-by-side, seamless and indistinguishable--just the way it should be."

Carlisle and McDonald also visited the 633rd Medical Group at the U.S. Air Force Hospital Langley where they learned about the group's day-to-day operations and its direct support of global missions.

While the general and chief toured the Langley medical facilities, Mrs. Gillian Carlisle and Jennifer McDonald met with spouses from across the 1st FW to address concerns and answer questions. ACC's top spouses discussed issues facing military couples including permanent-change-of-station moves, pilot retention, spouse career opportunities, deployments and the military family.

"Spouses are key in Service members' lives, so it's important for their voices to be heard," said Shelby Broadwell, wife of Col. Larry Broadwell, 1st Operations Group commander. "The Air Force asks a lot from military families, so it's great to see high-level spouses to hear our concerns."

After stopping at the hospital, the group met with 633rd Mission Support Group leaders for a tour of the Community Commons for a chance to speak to Airmen about their critical roles in supporting the Langley Air Force Base and Fort Eustis missions.

"We wanted to show the general all the great things the 633rd Mission Support Group accomplished during the last year," said Lt. Col. Gregory Beaulieu, 633rd Force Support Squadron commander. "When you think of air superiority, you think of the tip of the spear. Our mission-support Airmen are vital in supporting that mission across the world."

After learning about Langley's missions, the group ventured to Fort Eustis where they visited the Wall of Remembrance, a memorial honoring fallen Service members, and toured 3rd Port and Felker Army Airfield to learn about JBLE's mission partners and their contributions at home and abroad.

Carlisle finished his tour at Langley with a base-wide all call where he discussed his priorities as ACC commander, wingmanship and the future of the military.
"We need you ... to be innovative. We need you to look for better ways of accomplishing our mission. Innovation happens with the Airmen on the ground--it comes from all of you," he said. "Things will be difficult, but we are the world's greatest Air Force, and we need you now more than ever."

In closing, Carlisle left attendees with words of encouragement.

"What you do for a living makes a difference in the world," said Carlisle. "If you look left and right, back and front, you will see the greatest people you will ever meet. These are your brothers and sisters. without [you] we would not be the world's greatest Air Force."