ACC commander visits Airmen, Soldiers

  • Published
  • By David E. Poe
FORT BLISS, Texas --  Gen. William M. Fraser III, commander of Air Combat Command, visited Fort Bliss Airmen when he stopped in for an Airmen's call at 7th Air Support Operations Squadron's headquarters on East Fort Bliss, Dec. 7.

General Fraser met with Airmen and Guardsmen from the 7th ASOS, 3rd Weather Squadron's Det. 3 and the 204th Security Forces Squadron of the Texas Air National Guard to speak on many topics, as well as to answer their questions about the status of today's Air Force initiatives.

He spoke about the current taskings of the Air Force during overseas contingency operations, adding that the expectations are higher than maybe ever before.

"We have a lot of different people in a lot of Air Force specialty codes that are tasked in today's fight," General Fraser said. "I don't think we ever anticipated being at war this long, but we are, and we have to keep taking the fight to the bad guys - we are all in."

He encouraged dialogue on many topics such as the diverse care of Airmen in respect to on-the-job safety.

"One of the things we are seeing is the stress of combat and life in general," the general said. "Life in the military presents some unique challenges for all of us, and we're seeing people do things we'd rather them not do, whether it be self-defeating behavior, not utilizing proper [Operational Risk Management] we have to take better care of ourselves. We all also have to be good wingmen and take care of each other."

He was also sure to include concerns about the safety of Airmen off-the-job in regard to suicide. According to reports, the Air Force has projected about 14 suicides per 100,000 members this year, up from an average of less than 10 a year between 1998 and 2007.

"When something isn't quite right, you have to ask for help," General Fraser said, "and if you notice someone needing help, you have to reach out and provide them whatever they need. Sometimes it's just a listening ear, sometimes it's finding someone with the right kind of skills to help them. Too many are taking their lives and that really concerns me."

Airman 1st Class James Santiago, an Airman from 7th ASOS, attended the call and said he felt better informed on his Air Force for having the chance to speak with General Fraser in a personal setting.

"I got a lot of useful information," Airman Santiago said. "[Junior personnel] received an inside look at things such as our gear, manning and things of that sort."

He added that because of local Airmen's low profiles, yet highly critical missions, in the past he felt that their voices may have not been heard as loudly as those Airmen with more tactical mission sets in high-density Air Force locales. Airman Santiago said General Fraser's visit proved otherwise.

"It showed me that the leadership is trying their hardest to reach out to us at as many places as they can," Airman Santiago said.

Lt. Col. Adrian Clarke, commander of the 7th ASOS, said he was aware of the feelings Airman Santiago spoke of and that he wasn't alone in thinking that way.

"Due to the fact that most of my Airmen spend little to no time throughout their careers on Air Force bases, they do tend to feel disconnected from the Air Force," Colonel Clarke said. "I hope the conclusion that they draw is that the Air Force leadership is interested in them and cares about their issues."

As the Airmen's call concluded, Colonel Clarke said he hoped Airmen like Airman Santiago felt more of a part of the Air Force mission after General Fraser's visit, because the work Airmen perform at Bliss is a crucial part of it.

"I've actually had Airmen tell me that they feel we're one of the Air Force's lowest priorities, even though we perform the Air Force's most dangerous and critical wartime mission in the current fight," Colonel Clarke said. "I think General Fraser's visit will go a long way toward giving the Airmen faith that they aren't an afterthought."