USAFCENT command chief delivers front line news

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman DeAndre Curtiss
  • 49th Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. --  In today's Air Force, the deployment mission and the capabilities that Airman provide are critical. As Airmen are preparing to deploy, there may be many questions that they want to ask. Fortunately for Airmen at Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., there was a subject matter expert available March 27 -- U.S. Air Forces Central Command, Southeast Asia, Command Chief Master Sgt. Robert Sealey.

Sealey visited Holloman AFB, where he once served as 49th Mission Support Group superintendent, while on his mid-tour leave to speak about the current and future Air Force deployment mission.

"The reason for these town hall meetings today was to get out the message of what is going on in USAFCENT," said Sealey. "I wanted to provide news from the front line of what is happening today and what may be coming."

Sealey, who has been in the Air Force for 26 years, has served as USAFCENT command chief since October 2011. He was stationed here from 2006 to 2007, first serving as the 49th Security Forces Squadron manager then as the 49th MSG superintendent.

"Every time I run into an Airman, I ask them where they are from, hoping that I may hear Holloman," Sealey said.

During the town hall briefings, there was a slideshow that detailed certain statistics and facts about the USAFCENT area of responsibility, as well as videos of deployed service members who benefit from the capabilities that USAFCENT Airmen are able to provide. Sealey also spoke in depth about the draw down of U.S. forces in Iraq and the lessons that were learned from it and what can be applied to the upcoming draw down of Afghanistan, which is scheduled to be completed in 2014. Sealey spoke to the questions of why U.S. forces are still in Iraq and why they will be in Afghanistan after 2014 by saying that "we will always maintain a working relationship with those countries, we will not be there as a primary force but as training and mentoring team to help them along the way."

There were a lot of Holloman members in attendance for the two town hall meetings that were held.

"I learned a lot about the deployed mission and the service we can provide for the fight," said Senior Airman Zachary Shook, 49th Comptroller Squadron. "Being the 49th Wing Staff Agencies unit deployment manager, it is so cool that we can get the senior enlisted from over there to come and speak to us about the things that I have had questions about."

Sealey concluded the town hall by presenting the USAFCENT command chief coin to four Holloman Airman who performed exceptionally and went above and beyond the call of duty while they were deployed.

"I am really impressed with the capability of our Airmen both at home and those who are deployed," Sealey said. "Regardless of how obscure the location and situation may be, they are out there performing their duty proud and with passion; and that pumps me up."