Altus AFB hosts 19th AF commander

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Dillon Davis
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --   U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Michael Keltz, 19th Air Force commander, visited Altus AFB Nov. 13, 2014, as the first of several bases that will be part of a familiarization tour to learn more about the wings assigned to him and to share the 19th AF mission statement of creating fifth-generation Airmen.

During Keltz's visit, he toured various base facilities, previewed future KC-46A Pegasus infrastructure and spoke to base members at a commander's call.
Keltz attended a wing mission brief to get a better understanding of Altus AFB's mission and talk with base leaders about the base's history, heritage and future.
During Keltz's commander's call, he made his mission clear to all Airmen in attendance.

"Whether you are a no-striper or a four-star general within 19th Air Force, you have one mission, that is to build the fifth-generation Air Force," said Keltz.

Fifth-generation Airmen were described by Keltz as the most "current and innovative" Airmen to date and possessing the capability to build an Air Force that can "dominate in land, sea, air, space and cyberspace."

With Air Force operations still ongoing throughout the world, Keltz reminded Airmen to maintain their physical, mental and spiritual readiness.

"We have people that will be deployed in combat in the foreseeable future," said Keltz. "You always have to be prepared for combat."

In closing, Keltz made sure to remind Airmen of why they chose to serve their country and reiterated the mission statement.

"If anyone asks you what your mission is, you should be able to repeat it in a heartbeat," said Keltz. "You are building the fifth-generation Air Force. You are producing the fifth-generation Airmen."