Altus AFB hosts 19th AF leaders during familiarization tour

  • Published
  • By by Senior Airman Dillon Davis
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. – --  U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. James Hecker, 19th Air Force commander, and U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. David Boyer, 19th AF command chief, visited Altus Air Force Base Oct. 1-2, 2015, as part of a familiarization tour to learn more about the wings assigned to him and to share their vision for the future of aircrew training under the 19th AF.

During their visit, they toured various base facilities, previewed future KC-46A Pegasus infrastructure and spoke to base members at a commander's call. Hecker attended a wing mission brief to get a better understanding of Altus AFB's mission and talked with base leaders about the base's history, heritage and future. During Hecker's commander's call, he spoke with Altus AFB Airmen about current Air Force topics, answered questions from Airmen and shared his vision for the bases under 19th AF command.

“We are trying to visit all the wing’s that fall under the 19th Air Force, letting the Airmen get to know us and what our philosophies are, while getting to know a little more about you,” said Hecker. "We have been thoroughly impressed with what the 97th does here at Altus Air Force Base."

After sharing his appreciation for what the Airmen of the 97th Air Mobility Wing have accomplished, Hecker went on to explain why we continue to serve in the profession of arms.

“We need to have air superiority before we can accomplish the mission on the ground,” said Hecker. “We have troops on the ground that are able to sleep without having to hunker down because of what we do as Airmen. We owe that to them. A lot of you have been on the ground and it’s pretty comforting to know that someone is watching over you and dropping supplies to take care of you. We have to continue doing that.”

The visit allowed 19th AF leaders a chance to get face time with the Airmen, and to provide personal advice and insight into how to remain mission ready.

Hecker said to Airmen you have to be competent in doing your job, making time for your family life, keeping yourself physically fit and avoid neglecting your faith and spirituality. By balancing these four things, Airmen are doing their job right.

Hecker gave Airmen the “big picture” reasoning of how the Altus AFB training mission contributes to the Air Force.

“Altus AFB has a big impact on the mission,” said Hecker. Every C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft and KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft crew member trains here and that is important.”