Secretary of Defense visits SJ to encourage, address Airmen

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Marissa Tucker
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates visited more than 300 Airmen at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., to thank them for their service and address questions about topics such as the federal budget, the proposed drawdown of servicemembers in Afghanistan and the direction of the military, May 6.

"The Air Force, you, are playing a critical role in the fight in Afghanistan, as you have in Iraq. I wanted to come here and thank you for your service, for your sacrifice and also to ask each of you to thank your families for their support to you. Only their support makes your service possible," Secretary Gates said.

During his speech, Secretary Gates addressed his commitment to continually equip servicemembers with tools they need to maintain the title of the world's most feared, technologically advanced military. He also discussed the endurance of the U.S. Air Force, as it has continually provided air support for ground troops since the 1991 invasion of Iraq.

"I've been committed to maintaining our military's uncontested dominance of the skies. I've also been committed to modernizing and preparing for high-end air threats; that includes new radar capabilities for the F-15E, modernization of the F-22 and restructuring the F-35 program to ensure that we get this new fifth generation aircraft in a timely and affordable manner," Secretary Gates said.

The proposed drawdown in Afghanistan, the federal budget and future military endeavors were hot topics among Airmen who had the opportunity to ask Secretary Gates questions. The former Air Force intelligence officer who commissioned in the Air Force in 1967 spoke frankly with the Airmen, acknowledging the absence of specific dates of a complete withdrawal from Afghanistan and Iraq, but encouraging servicemembers to have faith as legislative leaders are committed to providing the military with the tools necessary to protect the nation.

When asked if the perceived lack of involvement and assistance of Southwest Asian allies in the killing of Osama bin Laden will speed up the drawdown, Secretary Gates recognized how the significance of the event could possibly be a "game changer" in regards to the pace of the drawdown, but said the effect is yet to be seen and, in time, should be more evident.

Before thanking Airmen for their participation in the more than 37,000 close air support missions and 9,700 medical evacuations completed in Afghanistan and Iraq last year, Secretary Gates also presented an Airman from the 4th Civil Engineer Squadron a Bronze Star Medal for his outstanding accomplishments during a recent deployment to Afghanistan. Senior Master Sgt. Arnel Abad was both humbled and honored by the presentation.

"I'm very excited, honored and humbled by this experience," said Sergeant Abad, 4th CES operations superintendent. "It makes me think of my family and the people I deployed with, because without them I wouldn't have this."

Three hundred Airmen who recently returned from a deployment or are gearing-up for one in the near future received a coin from Secretary Gates. As Seymour Johnson is one of the last stops for Secretary Gates as he completes almost 45 years of government service, the Airmen were appreciative of the visit.

"I'm really honored to be chosen to attend this event and to be coined by the Secretary of Defense," said Staff Sgt. Nicole Anderson, a crew chief with the 335th Aircraft Maintenance Unit. "I will leave for my third deployment in September, and I'm glad to know he thought enough of us to come here."

Secretary Gates ended his speech thanking the local area community for their support of the Airmen and expressing his enjoyment in his lengthy career of taking care of servicemembers.

"I've had no greater honor in my life than to serve and to lead the men and women of the United States Armed Forces," Secretary Gates said.