MAJCOM’s top bosses get up close, personal tour of base

  • Published
  • By Capt. Carla Gleason
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Focus on the mission today but continue to make smart decisions to prepare for the mission tomorrow: that was the message from Air Education and Training Command key leaders as they visited Luke Air Force Base July 14 and 15.

Gen. Edward Rice Jr., AETC commander, and Chief Master Sgt. James Cody, AETC command chief, toured the 56th Fighter Wing as the last stop on their cross-country visits to the various AETC bases throughout the United States.

"Big picture, we're not just in good shape, but we're in very good shape," Rice said about the overall AETC mission performance. "Moving forward we need to recognize decisions from several years ago affect our operations today and that is true for the future as well."

The MAJCOM leadership took the time to explore the base and see firsthand how Luke Airmen are able to fulfill the 56th FW mission: "Train the world's greatest F-16 fighter pilots and maintainers, while deploying mission ready war fighters."

"You have a very important mission here at Luke," Rice said during an all-call July 15. "I couldn't be happier with how well you are doing every day just getting the job done."

The AETC chief also had words of praise for the Mission Ready Airman program.

"Not only do you produce world-class pilots here at Luke, but you produce the world's best crew chiefs here as well," Cody said. "We tend to get the praise at our headquarters level for all the work you are doing here."

Rice and Cody received a status report on the wing and its F-16 training programs, the F-16 basing at Holloman AFB, N.M., and Luke's selection as the preferred alternative for the F-35 training mission during their tour.

"We will have some challenges in the future," Rice said. "But at the end of the day we are still going to have a strong military and a strong Air Force."

The AETC leaders also learned about the role Luke plays in the surrounding Arizona communities, the environment and even economics of the area from base and civilian community leaders.

For more information on the AETC leadership visit, go to luke.af.mil, Facebook or AFPIMS.