ACC commander visits Gunfighters

  • Published
  • By Trace Giles
  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho --  Gen. William M. Fraser III, commander of Air Combat Command, visited the 366th Fighter Wing March 7 and 8 to see the Gunfighters firsthand, thank them for their sacrifices and gain a better understanding of their mission, capabilities and challenges.

General Fraser's visit included a dinner with Idaho Gov. C. L. "Butch" Otter and civic leaders from Mountain Home. Additionally, he toured the 726th Air Control Squadron, 266th Range Squadron, base hospital, fitness center, 366th Equipment Maintenance Squadron and 428th Fighter Squadron.

To conclude his visit, he conducted an ACC commander's "All Call," speaking to the wing in a hangar filled to capacity with more than 500 Gunfighters. Specifically, he acknowledged the more than 600 Gunfighters currently deployed throughout the world, including more than 300 in the Republic of Korea.

"The 366th is deployed to the Pacific right now and they're obviously having a positive impact as they participate in that deployment," said General Fraser. "Iraq and Afghanistan are not the only places we are serving. I'm proud of them and what they're doing."

General Fraser said the biggest challenge ACC is currently facing is having limited resources to get the job done.

"We need to continue to implement good ideas that don't demand a lot of resources, and make us more effective," he said.

At his commander's call, the general fielded questions from the audience on a wide variety of topics to include the new physical fitness standards, joint expeditionary taskings, limited manpower, Airmen morale at home station and deployed locations and MHAFB's candidacy as an operational F-35 wing.

General Fraser said the main reason he wants to visit each base under ACC is so he can talk to Airmen and get their perspective.

"I enjoy talking and listening because it helps me become aware of the challenges and issues they are concerned with," he said. "I might not be able to fix all of them. My job is to work for the Airmen. You (Gunfighters and Airmen) have the good ideas and we need to listen to you."

Tech. Sgt. Lisa Bellotte-Harris, 366th Operations Support Squadron deputy airfield manager, and Tech. Sgt. Matthew Stritar, 366th Security Forces Squadron NCO in charge of police services, said the general's message resonated with them and they appreciated his visit.

"It shows we have a leader who cares and wants to know his people ... who they are and what they do," Sergeant Bellotte-Harris said. "For me, that makes a big difference, it shows he genuinely does care."

Sergeant Stritar agreed and said it was nice to have senior leadership come to the base.

"If there's one way to lead, then that's the way to do it - by using open communication top to bottom and from bottom to top," he said.

Col. John Bird, 366th Fighter Wing commander, said he was very excited to have General Fraser visit the base and have the opportunity to tell the Gunfighter story.

"It's one thing to be at the headquarters and to hear in briefings about things that are happening out in Air Combat Command," Colonel Bird said. "But it's another thing to get him on the ground here, where he actually gets to tour the wing and talk to Airmen and see both the challenges and opportunities we face."

Colonel Bird said he thought the wing did an excellent job of telling General Fraser about some of the challenges faced by the Gunfighters, such as the aircraft maintenance e-tools technical data system. General Fraser was briefed by users of this system and was made aware of needed improvements and the direct impact that the system limitations have on the mission.

"We were also able to share some of our great success stories, like what we've done with AFSO 21 around the base," Colonel Bird said. "It was a great visit and I think he has a better understanding of issues we are faced with at the wing."

General Fraser said he hopes to visit the base again soon and welcomes feedback anytime from Gunfighters and Airmen on how to continually improve processes to more effectively accomplish the mission.

"Thank you for your service, thank you for what you do, and thank you to the families who are supporting you," he said. "Especially your significant others and spouses, and even more so, your children."