ACC Commander visits Joint Base Balad

  • Published
  • By Staff Sergeant Jake Richmond
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
Joint Base Balad, Iraq --  Gen. John D.W. Corley, commander of both Air Combat Command and the Air Component of Joint Forces Command, visited the base July 17 to thank Joint Base Balad personnel for their service and survey various missions here.

In an interview during his visit, General Corley shared his perspectives on emerging missions, joint integration, and the role of Airmen during the U.S. forces' drawdown in Iraq.

332nd AEW/PA: Sir, with the addition of the MC-12, how has the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing's combat airpower mission evolved? And, as an Air Force core mission, what do you think the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance effort brings to the joint fight in Iraq?

General Corley: The 332nd starts with a number, but what's behind the number are the Airmen. When I think about the MC-12 portion of the 332nd, I think about these magnificent Airmen who are remarkably flexible and who do things in such a short period of time to deliver on the capabilities that this nation needs - on time. So, what you really think about is just a concept in somebody's brain, all the way through delivering on essential combat capability for the joint team, and doing it in record time. They are taking this fight to the enemy, and they're doing it by enhancing the synergy of all these parts.

PA: How would you characterize the integration between air assets and ground forces in-theater here at the most forward-deployed combat wing in Iraq?

General Corley: There's this thing called cross-domain integration. Well, what does that really mean? That means we've got an air part, a space part, and a cyber part. Then there's the integration between services, or between a domain of air and ground. That's one of the pieces I especially think our MC-12 people are leading our Air Force through. That kind of integration where we take a full-motion video that's necessary to take this fight to the enemy - we push that through other platforms and other capabilities, both here and back in the States.

PA: There are Airmen operating throughout Iraq in support of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps. As a major command commander, what does that say about the Air Force being in the joint fight?

General Corley: One of the things that we're stressing right now is "All in." I think Airmen have always been "all in." We talked about the MC-12 success stories, and when you think about the 732nd (Air Expeditionary Group), and all the capabilities in building partnership; those are contributions the people here on the ground are doing from an "all in" perspective. But, we also have to expand our view of the world. I think if you consider a magnificent Airman who's going to be a part of this new Global Strike Command, and an Airman who's sitting inside a missile silo back in a missile field, I think they're all in. I think if somebody's contributing from an Air Force Space Command, they're all in. I think if it's somebody on staff, whether they're in intelligence or whether they are working in public affairs, they are all in. So, it's relevant because Airmen are credible and trusted members of the team to do what this nation demands of them.

PA: How do you foresee Airmen contributing to Operation Iraqi Freedom as U.S. forces draw down, withdraw and, in some cases, re-posture from Iraq?

General Corley: Continue "all-in" - continue in this fight. That's what we're all about. This mission has evolved since we've been on the ground here and in the air over this particular space. And as we continue to evolve, especially during the drawdown, I think the dependency on us will increase. I look across this business, and whether it's advising and training the Iraqis and the Iraqi Air Force or whether it's our contribution to a day-to-day fight, we're going to continue to evolve and continue to be a critical part of it now and in the future.

PA: Given your 36-year Air Force career, what advice would you give Airmen today, especially those currently deployed here and away from home and their families?

General Corley: I think what's important is on the inside of you. I'm a lucky man, since I've been able to live my dream. And my dream is a purpose, and that purpose is serving. It doesn't just start with me. It's about all of the Airmen. My dad was an Airman, my wife was an Airman and I have been an Airman for 36 years. Out of our four children, three of them are Airmen. My purpose has been about service, and the way I've served is by being a very proud Airman. Another thing I want Airmen to think about is that we're developing future Airmen. In the crucible of combat right now, this is the place to develop those Airmen and those future leaders. I want those Airmen to have a plan, to understand the importance of an independent Air Force that is interdependent with the other services; we serve as Airmen in a very proud joint team. That's the purpose, and that's what I look back on fondly - being a part of our great Air Force, serving with great Airmen.