KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley speaks to Airmen at an all-call here Dec. 29. The secretary and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy visited Kandahar Airfield to thank the Airmen here for their service, wish them happy holidays and address key issues facing the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Russell Martin)
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley visits with Brig. Gen. John Dolan, 451st Air Expeditionary Wing and Kandahar Airfield commander, during a lunch with KAF Airmen here Dec. 29. Donley and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy visited Kandahar as part of a multi-base tour to meet with Airmen and deployed service members within the European and Central Command areas of responsibility. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Russell Martin)
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy addresses Airmen at Kandahar Airfield during an all-call here Dec. 29. As the highest ranking enlisted Airman in the Air Force, Roy made his last visit to KAF and is slated to retire in January after 31 years of service. Roy and Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley visited Kandahar as part of a multi-base tour to meet with Airmen and deployed service members within the European and Central Command areas of responsibility. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Russell Martin)
KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy addresses Airmen at Kandahar Airfield during an all-call here Dec. 29. As the highest ranking enlisted Airman in the Air Force, Roy made his last visit to KAF and is slated to retire in January after 31 years of service. Roy and Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley visited Kandahar as part of a multi-base tour to meet with Airmen and deployed service members within the European and Central Command areas of responsibility. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Russell Martin)
by Capt. Tristan Hinderliter
451st Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
1/1/2013 - KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- Two of the Air Force's top leaders visited Airmen here Dec. 29 to thank them for their service, wish them happy holidays and address key issues facing the service.
"Our Airmen and their families make countless sacrifices in support of our Air Force missions and national security," Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley told a large gathering of Airmen during an all-call. "I want you to know the folks back home have you in their thoughts and prayers during this special time of year."
Donley, who was accompanied on the visit by Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy, congratulated the Airmen on the impact they have made in the Regional Command-South area of responsibility, where Kandahar Airfield is located.
"Our [Explosive Ordnance Disposal] Airmen here have triggered thousands of pounds of explosives, and our mobility Airmen have moved thousands of passengers and tons of cargo through this base in support of our Joint and Coalition partners," the secretary said. "Our pararescuemen and other medical personnel have saved thousands of lives, transporting patients to receive higher levels of care at Bagram or elsewhere outside the theater.
"You've demonstrated over the past decade just how great an Air Force we have, just how skilled you are at expeditionary warfare," Donley continued. "It's very impressive, and I want you to know it's much appreciated by your higher headquarters."
The secretary went on to address the 2013 budget and possible effects of sequestration. Donley assured the Airmen that even if sequestration measures go into effect, there would be no impact on combat operations, Wounded Warrior and family support programs or salaries of servicemembers.
"As Washington works through these issues, I want to urge you not to be distracted by that debate," Donley said. "You have very important work to do here in Kandahar, and you have the full support of Defense Department leadership and the American people in this effort. We want you to keep focused on your important missions here."
Chief Roy, who is set to retire in January after 31 years of service, addressed the importance of resiliency and deterring sexual assault in the Air Force. He urged leaders to focus on being actively engaged with followers.
"If you're an NCO in this room, if you're an officer in this room, get out from behind that computer screen and get in front of your people," Roy said. "Get out in the duty sections and find out what's going on. You've got to get out in front of people. People require interaction."
In addition to the all-call, Donley and Roy had lunch with Airmen and visited the 738th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group, whose mission is to train and advise the Kandahar Air Wing, an Afghan Air Force unit that provides combat airpower to the southern regions of Afghanistan.
Lt. Gen. David Goldfein, commander of U.S. Air Forces Central Command and the air component commander for U.S. Central Command, accompanied the Donley and Roy on the visit. They were hosted at KAF by Brig. Gen. John Dolan, 451st Air Expeditionary Wing and KAF commander.
