AETC commander visits Vance AFB

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  • By Staff Sgt. Amanda Mills
  • Public Affairs
Vance Air Force Base, Okla. --  The commander of Air Education and Training Command said Vance Air Force Base's role in the mission of "Developing America's Airmen Today for Tomorrow" is strong. Vance is performing its mission "better than any other time in the history of the base," Gen. William Looney said during a visit to Vance AFB Tuesday and Wednesday,.
The base continues its role of creating pilots for the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps. "We'll continue to rely on Vance to develop and provide the most outstanding and well-trained pilots the world has ever seen, like it's been doing for many years," he said.
"Demand for pilots will always be high for the next 25 to 30 years, but we're having a session in the coming months at the Pentagon to look at future requirements. We'll know better then if we're increasing, sustaining or decreasing pilot load."
Vance is doing more than just graduating pilots. All Airmen in AETC are taking more of a part in the Air Expeditionary Force Cycle, the general said.
"We don't play a major role because our mission is not to deploy and engage the enemy, but to develop America's Airmen today for tomorrow," he said. "We have approximately 1,200 to 1,300 Airmen deployed every day. These are largely medics and support Air Force Specialty Codes such as security forces, contractors and civil engineering. So we do have a small role to play and we fulfill that obligation, just not as much as the commands whose role is in those theaters."
Whatever an AETC Airman's role, all are a piece of the command's mission, General Looney said. "If you are unable to fulfill that role, we cannot be effective," he said. He also stressed the importance of family in meeting the command's mission.
"As individuals, the most important part of your life is your family, not the mission," he said. "The mission is top priority for the unit."
General Looney said he was very impressed and pleased with what he saw during his first visit to Vance. Of particular note was the base's top honors in their recent Operational Readiness Inspection and base construction over the past 15 years, marking Vance AFB as, "truly a model of the perfect base and community partnership," he said.
Chief Master Sgt. Rodney Ellison, AETC command chief, accompanied General Looney on the visit. Only 4 percent of Americans ever serve their country, meaning 96 percent owe their freedom to servicemembers, Chief Ellison told Vance Airmen during an enlisted call.
"You make a difference -- mothers can tuck their children in bed tonight because you wear that uniform," he said.
The truth is, because of the Air Force, America doesn't lose thousands of servicemembers like it did in the past, Chief Ellison said. "Air power has changed war."
The chief also reminded Airmen of the reason they serve.
"Your family is the reason you wear the uniform. You're keeping America great for them," he said.