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AETC commander brings mission back into focus

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Amanda Ferrell
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  The commander of Air Education and Training Command met with senior leaders to address the command's most pressing concerns during the bi-annual AETC Commanders' Conference held here March 12-16.

The week-long series of briefings, open forums and social events brings AETC leaders together to discuss current issues affecting the command.

"It is an opportunity for leaders from throughout the command to get together and discuss substantive issues that affect the command in general," said AETC commander Gen. William R. Looney III, during an interview here March 15. "Whether they are issues that affect our enlisted or officer force, our instructors, or others who support the mission, we come together as senior leaders and express our thoughts and concerns both for AETC and the Air Force as a whole."

During the conference, the general participated in pointed discussions about many of today's top concerns, such as Force Shaping initiatives, in-lieu-of training for Airmen serving alongside Army soldiers overseas and the necessity to prepare for future wars by remaining at the forefront of training and technology.

"Our mission, which is to develop America's Airmen today, for tomorrow, has not been deterred by Force Shaping initiatives," said the general. "Our mission, which is very straightforward, is to recruit, train and educate our Airmen - and that has not changed."

What has changed is that now we have fewer people to educate and train, said General Looney. Our mission is the same, but the number of people we have to do it is less.

He understands the decrease in numbers will put added constraints on what Airmen are asked to do. The solution: a dynamic strategy that will be engaged and attuned to what Airmen are doing day to day.

"The strategy is devised to determine if gaps exist between our current mission and our overarching goals," said the general. "And where gaps exist, we will determine how to invest our time, effort and people to make accomplishing the mission as efficient as possible," he said.

Increasing efficiency is one step in the process of stretching manpower to accomplish the mission.

"Air Force Smart Operations 21 is the ability to put a team of experts together to take a look at a process from end to end, and see how we can accomplish the task or process with fewer people in less time - and achieve equal results, if not better," said General Looney.

"Together, by working smarter and harder, we will take our team to a higher level," said the general.

General Looney supports having a strategy that identifies shortfalls, and he champions having a tool such as AFSO 21 to apply where needed. However, he stresses the importance of keeping a common mission and goal in focus when evaluating tasks.

"What I would not want to see are wings, which have all sorts of AFSO 21 events, but with no real common purpose as to what they are trying to achieve," said General Looney.

Air Education and Training Command has achieved mission success despite the dynamics of an Air Force in transition. In fact, Airmen in the command are now stretching themselves beyond academic classrooms and drill pads to locations overseas in support of Army-led operations.

"We have no desire to turn our Airmen into soldiers," said General Looney. "The only reason we are doing in lieu of training, is simply because the Army is unable to fulfill the many missions they have been tasked."

Additional training in combat skills is required for Airmen deploying to overseas locations where they may engage in tasks not associated with their core Air Force Specialty Code.

"Although Airmen may work for Army personnel while deployed, they will still be accounted for, and part of, the Air Force organization," said the general. "It is the reality of a joint environment and the reality that the War on Terror is all encompassing."

The Air Force is playing a significant role in the War on Terror, and will be prepared for future conflicts as well. While at the conference, the general and many senior AETC leaders witnessed the F-22 Raptor demonstration routine, which will be flown at air shows across the country during this year's air show season.

"The F-15 and F-16 have served this nation very well, and have been a tremendous return on our investment," said General Looney. "The F-22 has been fielded, and has been able to demonstrate all the promises that have been made regarding its capability."

Not only has the F-22 proven to be a highly capable air dominance platform, it is exceeding expectations, which will continue to silence critics, said the general.

Expectations for the transitional Air Force are high not only for current deployment operations and the newest weapons platform, but for Airmen accomplishing the AETC mission at home.

Airmen working to maintain operations at AETC bases can be assured career development and quality of life issues are a top priority.

"For our officer and enlisted Airmen, education is a critical enabler for success in life," said General Looney. "We value education, and feel strongly that anything you can do to further your education is beneficial."

The general also shared advice for AETC Airmen.

"If you do the best you can in the job you've been given, you will be rewarded for your performance and the effort you put into it and other opportunities will come your way," said General Looney. "And never forget that although it may not seem like an opportunity at the time, everything is an opportunity if you choose to turn it into one."