Headquarters Air Combat Command Public Affairs
3/2/2015 - JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. -- Discussions on tomorrow's challenges and the roadmap of priorities to help safely navigate them took center stage as Gen. Hawk Carlisle, commander of Air Combat Command, spoke with Headquarters Airmen during three all calls here Feb. 24.
Carlisle opened each session by reminding Airmen of the critically important responsibilities they're tasked with--air superiority; command and control; global integrated intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; global precision attack; and personnel recovery.
"We are in charge of five core functions and we're helping design what the Air Force of 2030 looks like," Carlisle said. "ACC is all about Combat Air Forces and it is our responsibility to make sure the Air Force that follows us is better than it is today."
After offering his thoughts on where the command stands today, Carlisle introduced his priorities and where he hopes to take the command into the future in support of the Air Force.
"The three broad priorities are win today's fight, ensure we are sending the most capable folks downrange and to build the best Air Force for the future," he said. "It may be smaller because we can't afford it all, but is has got to be the most capable ... so that we are still the greatest fighting force in the world in 2030."
After offering a broad view of the priorities, Carlisle offered specifics on the three priorities:
Provide for today: deliver the greatest amount of combat capability to meet our national security objectives and win our nation's wars.
Prepare for the future: balanced capabilities and capacity to meet the demands of a complex and uncertain world.
Support the foundation of airpower: Airmen and their families.
The general further explained each priority was equally important and would ultimately help ensure the success of the MAJCOM's most important task: "...to provide the most combat capability to the combatant commanders we can to win today's fight and secure the national security objectives of the United States."
The general was also clear about what he saw as the foundation of the command's overall success: its Airmen and families.
"We can have the best equipment in the world, but if we do not have the right people operating it and if we have not taken care of them and their families so they can do the best job we ask of them to when they go downrange, then we fail," Carlisle said.
The general noted that the road ahead would not be easy, explaining that while today's Air Force is the smallest it has ever been, demands on the service show no sign of slacking.
"Today, we have more requirements and more missions than we have money, manpower or time," he said. "The only reason we can do this is because of all the incredible Airmen we have and what they are able to do every day."
General Carlisle stressed that critical challenges also extended inside the service's own ranks, particularly the continuing problems of sexual assault and suicide. Noting that both were "problems we own" he went on to say the answer lies with Airmen. "We need to help and be present so we do not have people that are attacked or so depressed they think the only way out is to take their own lives."
The general closed by offering thanks to the assembled Airmen for the important work they do every day.
"Thanks for stepping up and answering the call even through our challenges and doing everything to fix them," said Carlisle. "The work you provide to the wings, squadrons and Airmen going downrange are unbelievable."
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