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- Good afternoon from
Wright-Patterson Air Force Base.

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Thank you for joining us today.

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I'm Wendy Varhegyi, the Director
of Public Affairs for AFMC.

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Joining me today is General
Arnie Bunch, our Commander,

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as well as Chief Master
Sergeant Stan Cadell,

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our Chief Master Sergeant of the command.

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We're happy to have them
here today to talk to us

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about what's going on around the Command

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and answer your questions.

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Thank you for all the
questions you have submitted.

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You still have an opportunity
to comment on the live stream,

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and we will answer as many questions

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as we have time to do so.

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Before we get started
with opening comments,

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we thought it would be interesting

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as a way to get to know
General Bunch and Chief Cadell,

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to ask a few lightning round questions.

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So we're gonna start with
both of you here real quick.

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Introvert or extrovert?

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- Introvert.
- Introvert.

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- Climb a mountain or jump out of a plane?

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- Climb a mountain.
- Jump out of a plane.

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- Would you rather be able
to speak and understand

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every language in the world,

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or be able to talk to animals?

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- The first.
- Absolutely the first.

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- Star Wars or Star Trek?

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- Star Wars.
- Star Wars.

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- I would agree.

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What do you think about when
you're alone in the car?

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- Unfortunately, what
have I gotta get done.

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- So I guess it's thinking
about what am I forgetting.

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What's going on that
I'm not thinking about?

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- Exactly, given today's technology,

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if you were given the
opportunity to travel to space

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would you take it?

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- Yes.
- Absolutely.

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Absolutely, correct.

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- Ninjas or pirates?

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- Ninjas.

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- Is there a third option?

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- Nope (laughs).

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- Ninja's, I think.

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- Test or sustainment?

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Just kidding, please
don't answer that one.

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- I don't need to get voted off the island

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by part of the command here.

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- Exactly, so sir that, we just wanted to

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kinda get to know you a little bit.

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We'll let you have the opportunity

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for some opening comments.

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- So thanks Wendy.

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So, everybody out there, good morning,

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good afternoon, and good evening.

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That in and of itself
tells you a little bit

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about how diverse our command is.

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We're spread all around the
world executing the mission,

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and making sure that the
Air Force can do its mission

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each and every day.

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It is a honor and a
privilege for Caroline and I

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to get the opportunity to
serve as the Command Team,

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and get to work for you, the Airmen,

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of the Air Force Materiel Command.

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We've had the privilege
of being in this role now

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a little over eight months,
and I am consistently inspired

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and awed by everything that
you do each and every day.

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So thank you for what you're
doing to make us successful,

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and thank you for what you're doing

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to make the Air Force
and the nation successful

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in doing what we need to do.

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You've read our New Vision,
you've read our New Mission.

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That's been up on the
screen as you logged in,

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so hopefully you got that.

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We had a big off-site where we brought all

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the senior leaders together to go look at

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what we need to do to go
forward for the future.

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So that's not just one of us doing it,

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that's the command team getting together

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and setting that up for
how we want to go forward.

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So hopefully, you're seeing that.

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You've been able to see some of the videos

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that we've been putting out to go forward,

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and we got a lot of great
initiatives going on.

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We got the AFMC things we need.

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We're working on facilities,
communication, IT,

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a variety of different areas
there, leadership training.

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We got privatized housing.

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We got joint all domain
command and control.

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We got a myriad of things
that we're doing as a command,

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and you all are making it happen.

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You all are the ones
doing all the hard work,

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and I look forward to your questions

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as we go forward here, Chief.

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- Yeah, I just also want to say thank you,

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and thank you for the time to log in,

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and kind of your interest in hearing

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what's coming from the command team.

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We're excited to be part of
your team and the work for you.

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General Bunch and I are trying to get out

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and see and talk to many of
you out there in the field,

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but we know that we're not getting,

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with a command this size, we
don't have the opportunity

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to see and talk to everyone.

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So using venues like this to
kinda get the message out,

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and to hear directly from
you is extremely important.

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So thank you for taking time for that too.

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Really looking forward
to kinda hearing from you

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and hearing what's on your mind,

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and hearing an opportunity to discuss

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what's going on in this great command.

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Look forward to your questions.

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- Okay, thank you both.

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So General Bunch, we hear you say a lot,

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you know, that AFMC is
the most important command

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to achieve the national defense strategy.

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You mentioned new mission,
vision, strategic plan,

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but could you kinda explain
why you think as AFMC

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is the most important?

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What do we do that really
makes us stand out,

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and lead the way for the NDS?

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- So, it's a great question.

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It's one that I hope every airman in AFMC

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is ready to answer when they get asked.

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We're the most diverse, complex
command, that's out there.

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We do all of the development
of the new science

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and technology to make sure

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we have a technological advantage.

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We do all the acquisition of everything

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with the exception of space,

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everything from uniforms
to nuclear modernization,

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and everything in between.

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We are sustaining legacy
fleets that no one else

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other than our unbelievable
Airmen doing all the great work

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in the Depot and running the supply wings,

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and managing the supply
chain could keep flying.

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And we do all the testing for everything

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that's coming online to make sure

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that when it goes the field.

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All of those, the Air
Force counts on us for,

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for all those systems.

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Underlying that as a foundation
is all the great work

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done in the Air Force installation

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and Mission Support Center, to make sure

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that our Airmen, have
the right facilities,

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have the right services,
have the right childcare,

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can do the contracting.

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All of those things
together are why I believe

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what we do each and
every day is so important

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to our ability to execute our mission,

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and I talked about this
in multiple forums.

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I talk about my fellow MAJCOM commanders.

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I talk about it when I'm with the media.

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I talked about it at Air War College

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just a week and a half ago.

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We do our wartime mission
each and every day,

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and we have to act like that,
and we have to do our mission,

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because of the contribution.

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If we're not successful, the
Air Force cannot be successful.

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So, as you can probably tell,

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I'm a little bit
passionate about this one,

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because I really truly
know what you're doing

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and how much it contributes to everything

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that's going on across the Air Force.

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- Sir, thank you.

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So, Chief Cadell for you.

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As our enlisted leader,
what are you seeing

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as the big issues affecting
our enlisted force,

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things like the promotion testing changes,

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fitness retention, and how are
we addressing those issues?

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- Yeah, so thanks Wendy.

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I can tell you, our enlisted forces

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is the best in the world.

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When I think about our Air
Force and how proud I am

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to serve the airmen that wear the uniform.

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Our enlisted force are
the backbone of that.

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So, I think highly of them.

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As you mentioned, there
are some things going on

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in our Air Force, some changes,

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some things that they've got the focus

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of many of our senior leaders,

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whether that's promotion
testing for our senior NCOs.

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Recently we removed the promotion,

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the testing portion of the
promotion for senior NCOs,

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and it's only a boarding process,

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and that's created a lot of angst,

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and questions and concerns
from folks out there.

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What does that mean?

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How do I compete?

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Are my records gonna be
compatible for the Board?

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How are they gonna look at that?

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So, all of those questions come up.

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So some things that we're doing with that.

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We just had a meeting last week,

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we were talking about how
do we give better feedback

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to those individuals who not
only just get a board score,

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but really kinda help them decrypt

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what that board score means,

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and provide them better feedback on that.

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So we have a team up at up at HAF

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that's currently working that,

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and they've got that for action.

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They're actually doing a test right now,

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on the next Senior Master
Arm Promotion Board

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to kinda take a look at that
and see if there's any value

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in kind of breaking that out,

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and kinda decrypting that,
and making more sense of it.

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So, we'll see how that comes out,

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but that is absolutely something

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that's on our enlisted forces mine.

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The other we get questions
fairly often is about fitness,

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and what is that?

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You know, the changes
to the fitness pieces,

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there's a lot flying around
on social media about,

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the decoupling the waist measurement

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from the actual, the
rest of the fitness test.

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We've looked into that, and I
tell you my personal view is

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I don't think there's
a lot of value in that.

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We do think that there
may be value in doing the,

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what we're doing our
test based on right now,

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is on looking at doing mock
test or diagnostic test,

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basically making a time
where an individual

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can go take a fitness test early,

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and if they score well, and
they're happy with their score,

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they can say I like that, and it counts.

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The thought behind that
is it kind of lowers

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a little bit of the anxiety

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that goes in with fitness testing,

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and that's what our hope
is that be able to do that.

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The idea is that we want to fit culture.

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We really want people not to just to be

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taking the fitness test, to be passing it.

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We actually want you to have

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a culture of fitness all year round,

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and that's really our focus on that.

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So those are just a couple of things

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on the mind of our enlisted force,

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and not just our enlisted force,

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I think that really applies

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to all of our uniform folks.

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Sir, do you have any more on that?

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- Yeah, so one of the things that I would,

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and I completely echo what you said

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with the changes we're making
to the enlisted system.

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I think those are all warranted.

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I think what we're seeing,
and we've talked now about

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for our officers developmental categories,

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and how do we develop officers
so they're better prepared

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for senior leadership positions,

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senior leadership positions in
their specific career field,

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and how do we develop 'em?

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Do we send 'em to school?

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All those all those are
designed to get after

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developing the workforce
we need for tomorrow.

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It's not because there's anything wrong

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with the workforce that we have today.

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00:10:25,770 --> 00:10:28,800
We have unbelievable
Airmen across the board,

257
00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:31,890
but we're trying to do something
that we've kind of watched.

258
00:10:31,890 --> 00:10:34,580
We haven't made major
changes in quite a while,

259
00:10:34,580 --> 00:10:37,540
and what we're really
trying to do is change,

260
00:10:37,540 --> 00:10:40,780
so that we can retain,
so that we can educate,

261
00:10:40,780 --> 00:10:43,370
and that we can develop,
so that we're developing

262
00:10:43,370 --> 00:10:46,700
the workforce we need
for the Air Force we need

263
00:10:46,700 --> 00:10:48,830
for the future, and the leaders we need.

264
00:10:48,830 --> 00:10:51,470
So that's really what the
focus on both the enlisted

265
00:10:51,470 --> 00:10:54,200
and the officer side is all about.

266
00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:57,180
On the physical fitness, you gotta do it.

267
00:10:57,180 --> 00:10:59,760
It's part of the job, we
gotta do it every year.

268
00:10:59,760 --> 00:11:03,670
The beta test is really to
alleviate some of that stress

269
00:11:03,670 --> 00:11:06,470
that many of us get when
we go in to take the test,

270
00:11:06,470 --> 00:11:08,480
and not have a one or a zero,

271
00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:11,350
where it can show up in your
record, and it can hurt you,

272
00:11:11,350 --> 00:11:13,560
but to give you a chance to do that.

273
00:11:13,560 --> 00:11:16,900
Now, for those that want to
decouple the waist measurement,

274
00:11:16,900 --> 00:11:20,240
and the rest of the test, I am the one

275
00:11:20,240 --> 00:11:24,380
that's probably against that,
as much as about anybody else.

276
00:11:24,380 --> 00:11:27,010
I based that on the
fact that I used to box,

277
00:11:27,010 --> 00:11:31,750
and when I boxed, I would
lose a lot of weight,

278
00:11:31,750 --> 00:11:34,370
not the wisest thing that I had ever done,

279
00:11:34,370 --> 00:11:36,750
and I knew what it did to my body.

280
00:11:36,750 --> 00:11:39,060
What we need or airman
that are in fitness,

281
00:11:39,060 --> 00:11:41,600
and focus on fitness throughout the year,

282
00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:44,950
not try to do something drastic
to make a waist measurement,

283
00:11:44,950 --> 00:11:46,190
and then do something different.

284
00:11:46,190 --> 00:11:48,590
So that's really where our focus is,

285
00:11:48,590 --> 00:11:51,840
and just to make sure
everybody kinda understands

286
00:11:51,840 --> 00:11:53,890
the position that I've taken.

287
00:11:53,890 --> 00:11:56,200
- So talking about fitness,
we know that the Air Force

288
00:11:56,200 --> 00:11:58,370
is looking to do its own program.

289
00:11:58,370 --> 00:12:01,140
Do we anticipate the beta
test that AFMC is doing

290
00:12:01,140 --> 00:12:04,300
to change much, or will that
just be about consistent

291
00:12:04,300 --> 00:12:06,340
with what the air force will be doing?

292
00:12:06,340 --> 00:12:09,280
- So, I'll take that one,
and Chief you can add in.

293
00:12:09,280 --> 00:12:11,870
Right now, what we have gone with.

294
00:12:11,870 --> 00:12:14,520
We have been in dialogue
with other major commands.

295
00:12:14,520 --> 00:12:15,353
We've talked with everybody else

296
00:12:15,353 --> 00:12:17,220
about kinda what's going on,

297
00:12:17,220 --> 00:12:20,930
and we believe that we're pretty close.

298
00:12:20,930 --> 00:12:23,340
We might have to tweak a
little around the edges

299
00:12:24,180 --> 00:12:26,140
when the Air Force
policy finally comes out,

300
00:12:26,140 --> 00:12:26,973
but what we're doing right now,

301
00:12:26,973 --> 00:12:29,310
and what you are doing right now,

302
00:12:29,310 --> 00:12:31,040
is you're giving us valuable feedback

303
00:12:31,040 --> 00:12:32,280
on whether this works or not.

304
00:12:32,280 --> 00:12:35,580
We were just out with the
field last week out at Langley,

305
00:12:35,580 --> 00:12:40,100
and got to visit the
supply chain group there,

306
00:12:40,100 --> 00:12:42,130
and they were talking about
how they were utilizing it.

307
00:12:42,130 --> 00:12:45,330
They had some questions
about it, which I welcomed,

308
00:12:45,330 --> 00:12:46,390
but we're right now trying

309
00:12:46,390 --> 00:12:47,700
to collect data for the Air Force.

310
00:12:47,700 --> 00:12:50,460
It might tweak around some,
but I think we're pretty close.

311
00:12:50,460 --> 00:12:52,050
- Yeah, sir I would absolutely agree.

312
00:12:52,050 --> 00:12:56,820
I think that our beta test
is gonna actually inform

313
00:12:56,820 --> 00:12:58,000
the bigger Air Force policy.

314
00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:00,720
I think they're interested
in the information

315
00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:03,420
that we get back, so that
if we need to tweak anything

316
00:13:03,420 --> 00:13:05,150
for the bigger Air Force policy,

317
00:13:05,150 --> 00:13:07,223
it'll just even make it better.

318
00:13:09,170 --> 00:13:10,800
- So General Bunch, we
continue to hear a lot

319
00:13:10,800 --> 00:13:12,580
about privatized housing in the news

320
00:13:12,580 --> 00:13:13,413
and from our senior leaders.

321
00:13:13,413 --> 00:13:15,550
Do you have any updates
that you could give us

322
00:13:15,550 --> 00:13:16,990
on some of the specific issues

323
00:13:16,990 --> 00:13:18,520
and how we're addressing them?

324
00:13:18,520 --> 00:13:21,543
- Yes, so, for everyone out there.

325
00:13:23,020 --> 00:13:28,020
We, as senior leaders owe
you a safe living conditions

326
00:13:28,810 --> 00:13:30,460
for you and your family.

327
00:13:30,460 --> 00:13:33,450
Safe and secure living conditions
for you and your family.

328
00:13:33,450 --> 00:13:35,930
If you believe you do not have that,

329
00:13:35,930 --> 00:13:38,740
or if you are encountering any issues,

330
00:13:38,740 --> 00:13:41,290
my encouragement to
you is please reach out

331
00:13:41,290 --> 00:13:43,700
to your military housing office,

332
00:13:43,700 --> 00:13:46,130
or reach out to your chain of command,

333
00:13:46,130 --> 00:13:48,660
because this is commander business

334
00:13:48,660 --> 00:13:50,020
to make sure we're taking care

335
00:13:50,020 --> 00:13:52,020
of our airmen and their families.

336
00:13:52,020 --> 00:13:54,980
We recruit airmen, we retain families,

337
00:13:54,980 --> 00:13:56,690
and we've got to get this right,

338
00:13:56,690 --> 00:13:58,570
and we got to make some strides.

339
00:13:58,570 --> 00:14:01,350
There are a lot of initiatives going on.

340
00:14:01,350 --> 00:14:03,460
One of the big ones that I will say

341
00:14:03,460 --> 00:14:05,580
that not everybody's tracking exactly.

342
00:14:05,580 --> 00:14:08,560
Most have heard of some of the
initiatives we got going on,

343
00:14:08,560 --> 00:14:13,360
but this one, we actually
added 200 plus personnel

344
00:14:13,360 --> 00:14:16,080
that are going out into the
military housing offices

345
00:14:16,080 --> 00:14:18,680
are gonna be, and it'll
depend on the base size.

346
00:14:18,680 --> 00:14:21,780
Those are all on the
Unit Manning Documents.

347
00:14:21,780 --> 00:14:25,200
They've been given direct
hire authority to go do that.

348
00:14:25,200 --> 00:14:27,950
So, all the installations
across the Air Force

349
00:14:27,950 --> 00:14:29,500
should be looking at that.

350
00:14:29,500 --> 00:14:31,980
They should be going out
and filling those roles.

351
00:14:31,980 --> 00:14:34,670
We have put in place a resident advocate.

352
00:14:34,670 --> 00:14:39,530
That resident advocate is to
work with the military members

353
00:14:39,530 --> 00:14:41,730
who are living in those homes,

354
00:14:41,730 --> 00:14:43,890
so that they can work
with the project owner,

355
00:14:43,890 --> 00:14:47,540
to make sure their concerns
are being addressed.

356
00:14:47,540 --> 00:14:49,880
We're coming out with
a new Bill of Rights.

357
00:14:49,880 --> 00:14:53,120
I am going to a roundtable
meeting tomorrow

358
00:14:53,120 --> 00:14:55,930
with the Army, the
Navy, and the Air Force,

359
00:14:55,930 --> 00:14:57,596
and the Office of Secretary of Defense,

360
00:14:57,596 --> 00:14:59,990
where we'll be sitting down
with the project owners

361
00:14:59,990 --> 00:15:03,600
for all privatized housing,
and going over this tomorrow

362
00:15:03,600 --> 00:15:06,740
for about two hours with
the Honorable Henderson,

363
00:15:06,740 --> 00:15:09,480
as well as the service secretaries,
and the service chiefs,

364
00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:12,690
and we'll be working
through that Bill of Rights.

365
00:15:12,690 --> 00:15:16,070
We are taking steps to
where you may not have

366
00:15:16,070 --> 00:15:19,210
to pay your rent, while you're
in the middle of a dispute.

367
00:15:19,210 --> 00:15:21,830
We're still working out
the final details of this,

368
00:15:21,830 --> 00:15:23,970
so that we can get those resolved

369
00:15:23,970 --> 00:15:26,400
and you are not feeling burdened,

370
00:15:26,400 --> 00:15:28,870
and go to more of a
situation you would find

371
00:15:28,870 --> 00:15:30,970
if you weren't living
in a privatized home,

372
00:15:30,970 --> 00:15:33,460
but living in a off-base house.

373
00:15:33,460 --> 00:15:35,890
One of the recent things
Congress just passed,

374
00:15:35,890 --> 00:15:40,020
if there's a dispute
over utilities that now

375
00:15:40,020 --> 00:15:44,530
they can't bill you more,
because we don't have

376
00:15:44,530 --> 00:15:48,500
a very good database that
shows what each home costs

377
00:15:48,500 --> 00:15:50,640
from an energy perspective,

378
00:15:50,640 --> 00:15:52,790
and we are trying to
work our way through that

379
00:15:52,790 --> 00:15:54,900
to make sure that what
you're paying for utilities

380
00:15:54,900 --> 00:15:57,570
is really what you should be
paying for your utilities.

381
00:15:57,570 --> 00:15:59,970
So that was one that
Congress got involved with.

382
00:16:03,400 --> 00:16:04,810
Right now we have six bases

383
00:16:04,810 --> 00:16:06,540
that are kinda highlighted above others

384
00:16:06,540 --> 00:16:08,280
that have had some issues.

385
00:16:08,280 --> 00:16:10,130
I am getting monthly updates.

386
00:16:10,130 --> 00:16:12,220
Those are going to the Vice
Chief or Staff of the Air Force

387
00:16:12,220 --> 00:16:13,710
and the Under Secretary to the Air Force,

388
00:16:13,710 --> 00:16:16,200
with the appropriate MAJCOM commanders

389
00:16:16,200 --> 00:16:19,330
that own those installations
being involved.

390
00:16:19,330 --> 00:16:20,630
This one is personal or me.

391
00:16:20,630 --> 00:16:22,810
We've got to take care of our
families and I look at it,

392
00:16:22,810 --> 00:16:25,020
I'm looking at it from two perspectives.

393
00:16:25,020 --> 00:16:27,410
The first perspective
is we have installations

394
00:16:27,410 --> 00:16:28,900
within Air Force Materiel Command

395
00:16:28,900 --> 00:16:31,620
that I need airman to be able
to focus on their mission,

396
00:16:31,620 --> 00:16:33,140
and not worry about the homes

397
00:16:33,140 --> 00:16:35,090
that they're living in on the bases.

398
00:16:35,090 --> 00:16:37,800
So that's, as the Commander of AFMC,

399
00:16:37,800 --> 00:16:39,550
I want those installations those Airmen

400
00:16:39,550 --> 00:16:41,730
that are AFMC Airmen taken care of.

401
00:16:41,730 --> 00:16:43,610
The other one though with
the Air Force installation

402
00:16:43,610 --> 00:16:45,760
of Mission Support
Center working for AFMC,

403
00:16:46,990 --> 00:16:49,270
I'm focused on the whole Air Force.

404
00:16:49,270 --> 00:16:53,070
I've gone to many bases, and
when I go to those bases,

405
00:16:53,070 --> 00:16:55,120
I'm almost always going
through privatized housing

406
00:16:55,120 --> 00:16:58,360
to talk to residents, talk
to the installation commander

407
00:16:58,360 --> 00:17:00,340
to find out how we can better support.

408
00:17:00,340 --> 00:17:02,430
So we have a lot of initiatives.

409
00:17:02,430 --> 00:17:05,810
My big ask is, if you're a commander,

410
00:17:05,810 --> 00:17:08,860
and someone says they have
an issue with housing,

411
00:17:08,860 --> 00:17:10,440
I need you listen to 'em.

412
00:17:10,440 --> 00:17:11,900
I need you to get it routed up.

413
00:17:11,900 --> 00:17:13,500
I need to take care of 'em.

414
00:17:13,500 --> 00:17:16,890
If you're a resident, an airman,
living in a privatized home

415
00:17:16,890 --> 00:17:20,680
and you are having issues,
please bring it to someone

416
00:17:20,680 --> 00:17:23,470
in your leadership's attention,
so that we can make sure

417
00:17:23,470 --> 00:17:25,950
you get the right level of support.

418
00:17:25,950 --> 00:17:27,500
- Thank you sir.

419
00:17:27,500 --> 00:17:29,070
- Can I just add to his?

420
00:17:29,070 --> 00:17:30,700
As General Bunch, you can obviously see

421
00:17:30,700 --> 00:17:32,920
he's passionate about this,
and it's because it is

422
00:17:32,920 --> 00:17:33,930
the families and affects that,

423
00:17:33,930 --> 00:17:37,440
so, if you if you didn't
think there was much going on,

424
00:17:37,440 --> 00:17:40,300
on that road, you quickly learn
that there's a lot going on

425
00:17:40,300 --> 00:17:42,170
and there's a lot of focus on making sure

426
00:17:42,170 --> 00:17:43,700
we get this right for our airmen.

427
00:17:43,700 --> 00:17:46,500
So I encourage you, if you're
an airman living in housing,

428
00:17:46,500 --> 00:17:48,150
or if you're a spouse living in housing,

429
00:17:48,150 --> 00:17:49,940
please reach out and get help.

430
00:17:49,940 --> 00:17:52,300
You got a first sergeant,
you've got commanders,

431
00:17:52,300 --> 00:17:56,080
you've got folks out there
who want to help you,

432
00:17:56,080 --> 00:17:57,581
and get the things right.

433
00:17:57,581 --> 00:18:00,650
So, please reach out to them,
and make sure to give them

434
00:18:00,650 --> 00:18:03,072
an opportunity to work
these issues for you.

435
00:18:03,072 --> 00:18:04,672
- You've got Residence Councils.

436
00:18:06,130 --> 00:18:07,950
There is a lot out there.

437
00:18:07,950 --> 00:18:10,260
Now I have to say, some of this

438
00:18:10,260 --> 00:18:11,760
is not gonna happen overnight.

439
00:18:12,630 --> 00:18:14,800
It's gonna take us some
time, but I can tell you

440
00:18:14,800 --> 00:18:17,730
we are trying to put a lot
of effort into this area

441
00:18:17,730 --> 00:18:19,370
because it's critical for being able

442
00:18:19,370 --> 00:18:21,200
to care of our airmen and their families.

443
00:18:21,200 --> 00:18:22,290
- Thank you both.

444
00:18:22,290 --> 00:18:23,940
So Chief, we'll direct this to you.

445
00:18:23,940 --> 00:18:26,090
Last fall the Air Force
conducted a resilience

446
00:18:26,090 --> 00:18:29,190
tactical pause to combat
the rising suicide numbers.

447
00:18:29,190 --> 00:18:31,430
Can you talk a little bit
about the result of that pause,

448
00:18:31,430 --> 00:18:34,250
and what the Air Force and AFMC are doing

449
00:18:34,250 --> 00:18:37,180
to address the shortages
in mental health providers?

450
00:18:37,180 --> 00:18:39,300
Is there any consideration to embedding

451
00:18:39,300 --> 00:18:41,400
these providers in our
squadrons and units?

452
00:18:41,400 --> 00:18:42,610
- Yeah, so thanks for the question.

453
00:18:42,610 --> 00:18:45,060
I'll attack it first and
then give General Bunch

454
00:18:45,060 --> 00:18:46,750
an opportunity to kind of hit on this too,

455
00:18:46,750 --> 00:18:47,590
because this is passionate.

456
00:18:47,590 --> 00:18:50,320
This is, again, we talked
about taking care of airmen,

457
00:18:50,320 --> 00:18:51,620
and that last question.

458
00:18:51,620 --> 00:18:53,003
This is really it too.

459
00:18:54,511 --> 00:18:55,920
The big picture piece is why did we do

460
00:18:55,920 --> 00:18:59,060
the resiliencing tactical pause?

461
00:18:59,060 --> 00:19:01,860
The reason we did is because
we've seen an alarming number

462
00:19:01,860 --> 00:19:04,890
of people who were doing
destructive behavior

463
00:19:04,890 --> 00:19:06,950
to their selves, and
decide to take their lives.

464
00:19:06,950 --> 00:19:08,100
They didn't see a way out.

465
00:19:08,100 --> 00:19:09,890
They didn't see an opportunity for

466
00:19:09,890 --> 00:19:11,810
what tomorrow would look like.

467
00:19:11,810 --> 00:19:14,720
So we really said, hey we
gotta take a pause here,

468
00:19:14,720 --> 00:19:18,390
and take a look at what
can we do differently,

469
00:19:18,390 --> 00:19:21,040
and the idea of that
resiliency tactical pause

470
00:19:21,040 --> 00:19:23,440
was not to say, hey, we think this is it.

471
00:19:23,440 --> 00:19:24,800
We're done, we fixed it.

472
00:19:24,800 --> 00:19:27,600
This was really just an
opportunity to get feedback

473
00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:29,905
from the force, and kind of hear from you,

474
00:19:29,905 --> 00:19:33,060
what's going on out there,
and then what can we do

475
00:19:33,060 --> 00:19:36,110
to hear, to do differently?

476
00:19:36,110 --> 00:19:37,600
We got lots of feedback,

477
00:19:37,600 --> 00:19:39,750
and we're utilizing some of that feedback.

478
00:19:39,750 --> 00:19:42,620
But let me tell you one thing
I think that's important

479
00:19:42,620 --> 00:19:47,568
as part of this whole
discussion about resiliency,

480
00:19:47,568 --> 00:19:51,620
is that, I think the bottom
line with resiliency piece,

481
00:19:51,620 --> 00:19:54,430
it comes with having individuals

482
00:19:54,430 --> 00:19:57,960
who are willing and open to seek help.

483
00:19:57,960 --> 00:20:02,480
So part of this is us looking
to how do we de-stigmatize

484
00:20:02,480 --> 00:20:03,930
an individual go get help,

485
00:20:03,930 --> 00:20:06,200
whether that's for mental
health, or chaplains,

486
00:20:06,200 --> 00:20:08,120
or anyone else that's
out there, supervisors,

487
00:20:08,120 --> 00:20:09,910
first sergeants, there's lots of different

488
00:20:09,910 --> 00:20:12,283
helping agencies out there.

489
00:20:13,320 --> 00:20:16,840
So, when we talk about
resiliency tactical pause,

490
00:20:16,840 --> 00:20:19,900
it is kind of a beginning
point as I look at this,

491
00:20:19,900 --> 00:20:21,740
but we have to build those relationships,

492
00:20:21,740 --> 00:20:24,917
and open up that connectedness
between our force.

493
00:20:24,917 --> 00:20:29,220
We just started in another
effort called AFMC Connect,

494
00:20:29,220 --> 00:20:31,630
where we're trying to
actually connect our force

495
00:20:31,630 --> 00:20:33,680
and really it's to kinda
get people talking,

496
00:20:33,680 --> 00:20:35,530
getting people to open up about things

497
00:20:35,530 --> 00:20:36,910
that are going on their lives,

498
00:20:36,910 --> 00:20:39,030
and share with other
individuals who are there

499
00:20:39,030 --> 00:20:41,280
to kind of help, and hear what's going on,

500
00:20:41,280 --> 00:20:44,610
and provide them resources out there

501
00:20:44,610 --> 00:20:46,920
within your organizations.

502
00:20:46,920 --> 00:20:49,950
The bottom line is there's
lots of resources out there,

503
00:20:49,950 --> 00:20:50,783
and you gotta be able to reach out,

504
00:20:50,783 --> 00:20:52,810
and you gotta feel comfortable with that,

505
00:20:52,810 --> 00:20:55,660
but having that individual being willing

506
00:20:55,660 --> 00:20:59,100
to kind of make their self
vulnerable and open up

507
00:20:59,100 --> 00:21:00,770
is extremely important with that.

508
00:21:00,770 --> 00:21:03,660
So, what I will tell you is,

509
00:21:03,660 --> 00:21:06,620
anytime we talk about resiliency,
it's got to be something

510
00:21:06,620 --> 00:21:10,330
that we're looking at as a
whole person piece there,

511
00:21:10,330 --> 00:21:12,080
whether that's a spiritual piece,

512
00:21:12,080 --> 00:21:14,890
whether that's the mental health piece,

513
00:21:14,890 --> 00:21:18,630
whether that's the physical
piece, whatever that is,

514
00:21:18,630 --> 00:21:21,460
it's looking at the whole
person portion in here,

515
00:21:21,460 --> 00:21:24,570
and in offers and resources
that are out there.

516
00:21:24,570 --> 00:21:26,950
Bottom line is, there's help available

517
00:21:26,950 --> 00:21:29,713
for anyone who is
struggling with anything,

518
00:21:30,820 --> 00:21:34,630
any type of destructive
behavior, harming themselves,

519
00:21:34,630 --> 00:21:35,670
and we need to make sure that we're

520
00:21:35,670 --> 00:21:37,662
plugging them into the resources

521
00:21:37,662 --> 00:21:39,810
that are available out there.

522
00:21:39,810 --> 00:21:44,323
You talked a little bit about
the mental health providers,

523
00:21:44,323 --> 00:21:46,670
and the shortage there.

524
00:21:46,670 --> 00:21:48,591
What I'll tell you is I
think this is not something

525
00:21:48,591 --> 00:21:50,480
specific to the Air Force,

526
00:21:50,480 --> 00:21:54,630
this is a wider national issue,
where we are, as a nation,

527
00:21:54,630 --> 00:21:57,110
are short in mental health providers.

528
00:21:57,110 --> 00:21:59,710
We're doing things to look for options

529
00:22:00,714 --> 00:22:03,630
or opportunities out
there to kind of make sure

530
00:22:03,630 --> 00:22:05,530
that people are available to help,

531
00:22:05,530 --> 00:22:08,710
and there's lots of efforts
going on that from A1Z

532
00:22:08,710 --> 00:22:10,940
is our folks that are up at HAF,

533
00:22:10,940 --> 00:22:12,580
and kind of looking at a policy standpoint

534
00:22:12,580 --> 00:22:15,140
and how do we bring people
more mental health providers

535
00:22:15,140 --> 00:22:17,500
into the force, and how
do we sustain those,

536
00:22:17,500 --> 00:22:19,040
and take care of those
that are in Air Force.

537
00:22:19,040 --> 00:22:22,423
So lots of efforts going on in this arena,

538
00:22:23,410 --> 00:22:24,900
but the bottom line I think I want

539
00:22:24,900 --> 00:22:27,910
to kind of foot stomp here,
is that for those folks

540
00:22:27,910 --> 00:22:30,143
who are need help, please reach out.

541
00:22:31,010 --> 00:22:35,220
There is help available, and don't wait

542
00:22:35,220 --> 00:22:39,250
'til it gets to a point where
you don't know what to do.

543
00:22:39,250 --> 00:22:40,780
Reach out early and often.

544
00:22:40,780 --> 00:22:43,590
Connect with those individuals
in the workforce around you.

545
00:22:43,590 --> 00:22:44,590
They're there to help you.

546
00:22:44,590 --> 00:22:47,340
We want to be there to help
you if you're struggling

547
00:22:47,340 --> 00:22:49,061
or you know someone is struggling.

548
00:22:49,061 --> 00:22:52,333
Don't let it fester,
get after it, so, sir.

549
00:22:53,210 --> 00:22:57,570
- So, anyone out there that thought we did

550
00:22:57,570 --> 00:23:01,380
the one day downtime,
have the tactical pause,

551
00:23:01,380 --> 00:23:03,130
and thought they were doing the high five

552
00:23:03,130 --> 00:23:06,370
and the happy dance, 'cause
we had solved the problem.

553
00:23:06,370 --> 00:23:08,390
You're completely wrong.

554
00:23:08,390 --> 00:23:11,660
That was a step in a process.

555
00:23:11,660 --> 00:23:14,440
Last year, if you read
the news this morning,

556
00:23:14,440 --> 00:23:17,200
112 suicides across the Air Force

557
00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:20,720
of uniform members, last year.

558
00:23:20,720 --> 00:23:25,420
10 year high, 24 civilians.

559
00:23:25,420 --> 00:23:28,489
Last year for Air Force
Materiel Command we had 15,

560
00:23:28,489 --> 00:23:30,623
12 civilians and three uniform.

561
00:23:31,580 --> 00:23:33,033
We are not out of this.

562
00:23:34,330 --> 00:23:37,500
We are trying to get
resources for mental health.

563
00:23:37,500 --> 00:23:38,890
There's a conference next month,

564
00:23:38,890 --> 00:23:41,400
to see what we can do
to try to address that.

565
00:23:41,400 --> 00:23:43,790
We are trying to make
sure the helping agencies

566
00:23:43,790 --> 00:23:47,120
that we've been using, our
employee assistance programs,

567
00:23:47,120 --> 00:23:48,650
and those things are available.

568
00:23:48,650 --> 00:23:50,710
We just renegotiated a
contract to make sure

569
00:23:50,710 --> 00:23:52,890
we had that available for everybody.

570
00:23:52,890 --> 00:23:55,330
So there's a lot of
effort going into that.

571
00:23:55,330 --> 00:23:57,540
Here's what I ask you though, out there

572
00:23:57,540 --> 00:23:59,963
as an airman within this command.

573
00:24:01,070 --> 00:24:05,330
I love all 85,000 plus airmen,
that work in the command,

574
00:24:05,330 --> 00:24:06,453
love everyone of you.

575
00:24:07,360 --> 00:24:10,890
No matter how much I
love you, there is no way

576
00:24:10,890 --> 00:24:14,070
that I'm gonna know that
something is happening

577
00:24:14,070 --> 00:24:17,080
in a young airman's life
at Edwards Air Force Base,

578
00:24:17,080 --> 00:24:19,000
that's working on the flight line,

579
00:24:19,000 --> 00:24:23,380
or a contracting officer
working at Tinker,

580
00:24:23,380 --> 00:24:25,960
or a depot worker at Robins.

581
00:24:25,960 --> 00:24:28,040
There is very little probability

582
00:24:28,040 --> 00:24:30,580
that it's gonna bubble up to my attention.

583
00:24:30,580 --> 00:24:34,410
To handle this we have to
do it at the local level.

584
00:24:34,410 --> 00:24:38,040
It's got to be the small
groups, you've got to connect.

585
00:24:38,040 --> 00:24:41,200
You've gotta take that
chance and ask someone

586
00:24:41,200 --> 00:24:44,980
when they come in and they
start showing up at work late,

587
00:24:44,980 --> 00:24:47,660
or they come in and their
uniform's not right,

588
00:24:47,660 --> 00:24:50,050
or they start dressing differently.

589
00:24:50,050 --> 00:24:54,360
Take that bold step and
ask 'em if they're okay.

590
00:24:54,360 --> 00:24:56,890
Only through that kind of an engagement

591
00:24:56,890 --> 00:24:58,780
are we gonna be able to get after this,

592
00:24:58,780 --> 00:25:02,930
and take care of our most
valuable resource, the airmen,

593
00:25:02,930 --> 00:25:06,073
the men and women that make
this command successful.

594
00:25:07,540 --> 00:25:10,630
- Important topic, and you
mentioned the AFMC Connect,

595
00:25:10,630 --> 00:25:13,170
so new program launching out.

596
00:25:13,170 --> 00:25:14,550
We did get a little bit of feedback

597
00:25:14,550 --> 00:25:16,390
that this is another program,

598
00:25:16,390 --> 00:25:19,390
and it's just gonna take more
time away from the mission.

599
00:25:19,390 --> 00:25:20,520
What do you say to that,

600
00:25:20,520 --> 00:25:24,650
and how do we do this while
we balance the mission,

601
00:25:24,650 --> 00:25:27,205
and, you know, people's lives.

602
00:25:27,205 --> 00:25:30,360
- So I'll start Chief, I'll
let you kind of finish.

603
00:25:30,360 --> 00:25:33,450
It's not really intended
to be a training burden.

604
00:25:33,450 --> 00:25:37,740
It's actually intended to be
a way to give people topics

605
00:25:37,740 --> 00:25:40,660
to talk about, to build
that connectedness,

606
00:25:40,660 --> 00:25:42,350
that I kind of referenced a minute ago

607
00:25:42,350 --> 00:25:46,280
to make that for frontline effort contact,

608
00:25:46,280 --> 00:25:48,220
and making sure we're
looking out for each other

609
00:25:48,220 --> 00:25:51,957
to bring that up as you do your
mission on a regular basis.

610
00:25:51,957 --> 00:25:54,620
It's not intended to go, I gotta go train

611
00:25:54,620 --> 00:25:57,350
for X number of hours on this or that.

612
00:25:57,350 --> 00:25:59,920
This is really another tool
we're trying to bring forward

613
00:25:59,920 --> 00:26:03,970
so that we can build that
connectivity at that working level

614
00:26:03,970 --> 00:26:07,150
so that we are looking out
for each other along the way.

615
00:26:07,150 --> 00:26:10,200
- Yes sir, I would just add that it is.

616
00:26:10,200 --> 00:26:11,680
It's a tool in your toolbox,

617
00:26:11,680 --> 00:26:13,800
and this is something that
we're trying to really start

618
00:26:13,800 --> 00:26:15,070
and try to see if it works.

619
00:26:15,070 --> 00:26:16,590
If it doesn't work, then
we'll look somewhere else,

620
00:26:16,590 --> 00:26:19,780
but the reality is, is
that we want to provide you

621
00:26:19,780 --> 00:26:24,780
as both supervisors,
employees, leaders out there,

622
00:26:25,182 --> 00:26:27,590
a tool for your toolbox.

623
00:26:27,590 --> 00:26:30,120
The axle it's connecting with individuals

624
00:26:30,120 --> 00:26:31,980
is that human touch, that we're

625
00:26:31,980 --> 00:26:33,580
really trying to strive after.

626
00:26:33,580 --> 00:26:35,910
many times we get so
busy in our work lives,

627
00:26:35,910 --> 00:26:39,080
and get so busy with things
that are going on around us,

628
00:26:39,080 --> 00:26:40,880
that we forget really
what's in front of us,

629
00:26:40,880 --> 00:26:43,120
and it's those people
that sit next to you,

630
00:26:43,120 --> 00:26:45,530
that's people that are
surrounded each and every day,

631
00:26:45,530 --> 00:26:47,543
and we lose contact with them.

632
00:26:47,543 --> 00:26:50,660
The AFMC Connect is,
it's just a simple thing,

633
00:26:50,660 --> 00:26:53,470
a way to sit down and talk
about things that are going on,

634
00:26:53,470 --> 00:26:55,170
and we're gonna give you subjects

635
00:26:55,170 --> 00:26:57,220
to kind of open up and start dialogue,

636
00:26:57,220 --> 00:26:58,500
but that's really what it's about.

637
00:26:58,500 --> 00:27:00,400
It's kind of making contact
with those individuals

638
00:27:00,400 --> 00:27:01,910
around you, starting a dialogue,

639
00:27:01,910 --> 00:27:03,710
getting to know those folks around you.

640
00:27:03,710 --> 00:27:05,453
I'd encourage you to
talk to the individuals

641
00:27:05,453 --> 00:27:07,550
that are sitting next to
you, or working around you,

642
00:27:07,550 --> 00:27:08,820
get to know who they are.

643
00:27:08,820 --> 00:27:10,460
What makes them tick?

644
00:27:10,460 --> 00:27:12,283
Why do they do what they do?

645
00:27:13,450 --> 00:27:16,110
Getting to know 'em in a
little bit deeper level.

646
00:27:16,110 --> 00:27:19,110
We call it a little bit
of intrusive leadership.

647
00:27:19,110 --> 00:27:21,660
Get to know them as much as
they're willing to allow you

648
00:27:21,660 --> 00:27:23,970
into their bubble, little bitty circle,

649
00:27:23,970 --> 00:27:26,020
but that's really what
AFMC Connect is about,

650
00:27:26,020 --> 00:27:26,880
it's getting to know the people

651
00:27:26,880 --> 00:27:28,780
that you work with each and every day.

652
00:27:29,990 --> 00:27:32,070
- The Chief hit on one of
the normal talking points

653
00:27:32,070 --> 00:27:35,220
that I use, I quote General Hoffman who

654
00:27:35,220 --> 00:27:36,380
when I was a Wing Commander,

655
00:27:36,380 --> 00:27:38,330
he was the MAJCOM Commander, and he said,

656
00:27:38,330 --> 00:27:42,250
be as intrusive as your people
will allow you to be Arnie.

657
00:27:42,250 --> 00:27:44,650
The reality of it is unless
we ask some hard questions

658
00:27:44,650 --> 00:27:46,640
every now and then, you won't know that,

659
00:27:46,640 --> 00:27:49,790
and you might be able to
answer the lightning questions

660
00:27:49,790 --> 00:27:52,640
without us having to
answer them ourselves.

661
00:27:52,640 --> 00:27:55,130
You may know whether an
introvert or an extrovert.

662
00:27:55,130 --> 00:27:55,963
So anyway.

663
00:27:57,130 --> 00:27:59,110
- So one of the questions
that came in online

664
00:27:59,110 --> 00:28:02,910
was somewhat related to
this, knowing your workplace.

665
00:28:02,910 --> 00:28:04,870
How do you manage
bullies in the workplace,

666
00:28:04,870 --> 00:28:06,730
and toxic work environment?

667
00:28:06,730 --> 00:28:08,380
And what are some tools for that?

668
00:28:13,270 --> 00:28:17,200
- Every airman that works in
Air Force Materiel Command

669
00:28:17,200 --> 00:28:22,110
should have the ability to
be given the opportunity

670
00:28:22,110 --> 00:28:24,410
to be fully successful in their workplace,

671
00:28:24,410 --> 00:28:29,410
without any form of harassment
of any nature whatsoever.

672
00:28:29,870 --> 00:28:31,990
If you do not believe
you are getting that,

673
00:28:31,990 --> 00:28:34,900
and you believe you're being
bullied or anything else,

674
00:28:34,900 --> 00:28:36,630
that needs to go to supervisors.

675
00:28:36,630 --> 00:28:40,630
If supervisors are not responding,
it needs to go levels up.

676
00:28:40,630 --> 00:28:43,450
That is something we
cannot have in a workplace

677
00:28:43,450 --> 00:28:45,480
that's as professional as ours,

678
00:28:45,480 --> 00:28:48,020
doing a wartime mission
each and every day.

679
00:28:48,020 --> 00:28:50,460
We're in a constant battle for talent.

680
00:28:50,460 --> 00:28:53,930
We cannot allow that to
go on in this command.

681
00:28:53,930 --> 00:28:58,310
So, if you experience
it, nip it immediately,

682
00:28:58,310 --> 00:29:00,310
and bring it someone's attention.

683
00:29:00,310 --> 00:29:02,900
If you're a leader, and you see it,

684
00:29:02,900 --> 00:29:06,420
you gotta stop it, or you
will set a new standard.

685
00:29:06,420 --> 00:29:09,230
You cannot walk by a problem.

686
00:29:09,230 --> 00:29:12,070
If you're a commander, or
you're a command Chief,

687
00:29:12,070 --> 00:29:16,070
or you're a Chief, or you're
a Squadron, whatever it is,

688
00:29:16,070 --> 00:29:18,200
and you see something like that happen,

689
00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:20,110
you have got to immediately take action

690
00:29:20,110 --> 00:29:21,540
or it will foster a belief

691
00:29:21,540 --> 00:29:23,570
that other behaviors can be allowed,

692
00:29:23,570 --> 00:29:26,760
and you cannot allow that
to happen in a workplace

693
00:29:26,760 --> 00:29:30,120
that we're trying to
develop to give everyone

694
00:29:30,120 --> 00:29:33,635
the opportunity to be successful.

695
00:29:33,635 --> 00:29:34,910
- [Wendy] Sir, appreciate that.

696
00:29:34,910 --> 00:29:36,130
- Sir, I think you said it best.

697
00:29:36,130 --> 00:29:36,963
I don't know if there's anything

698
00:29:36,963 --> 00:29:38,673
I can add to that, but amen.

699
00:29:41,270 --> 00:29:43,350
- All right, shifting gears just a bit.

700
00:29:43,350 --> 00:29:46,930
Can you provide the status of
the AFMC We Need initiative,

701
00:29:46,930 --> 00:29:48,940
and talk about some
recent wins and efforts

702
00:29:48,940 --> 00:29:50,330
that we have underway.

703
00:29:50,330 --> 00:29:53,333
- So, let me start by saying thank you.

704
00:29:54,750 --> 00:29:57,853
We asked you for your feedback,
and you gave it to us.

705
00:29:58,780 --> 00:30:02,070
It was over 80,000
comments that we got back,

706
00:30:02,070 --> 00:30:05,480
and we've started a lot of initiatives.

707
00:30:05,480 --> 00:30:08,290
As you'll recall, the big
ones that you brought up,

708
00:30:08,290 --> 00:30:13,290
facilities, IT,
leadership, communications.

709
00:30:13,840 --> 00:30:16,580
What I would tell you is we
have initiatives going in,

710
00:30:16,580 --> 00:30:18,190
after a lot of those.

711
00:30:18,190 --> 00:30:21,110
On the facilities this
year is the first year

712
00:30:21,110 --> 00:30:23,720
that we have gotten a higher percentage

713
00:30:23,720 --> 00:30:25,270
of the amount of money we need

714
00:30:25,270 --> 00:30:30,020
to do our facilities
restoration and modernization

715
00:30:30,020 --> 00:30:32,830
facility sustainment,
restoration, and modernization,

716
00:30:32,830 --> 00:30:34,770
and we're out executing those programs

717
00:30:34,770 --> 00:30:36,280
to try to create a better workplace.

718
00:30:36,280 --> 00:30:39,820
We're also looking at ways
where we have manning crunches,

719
00:30:39,820 --> 00:30:43,130
to be able to move people
off-base, in some places,

720
00:30:43,130 --> 00:30:44,650
to give them the right workspace

721
00:30:44,650 --> 00:30:45,670
and be able to take care of 'em.

722
00:30:45,670 --> 00:30:48,500
So that's what we're doing
on some of the facilities,

723
00:30:48,500 --> 00:30:50,450
but you'll recall what I told you,

724
00:30:50,450 --> 00:30:53,670
in one of the addresses, facilities and IT

725
00:30:53,670 --> 00:30:55,160
are gonna be two of the hardest ones

726
00:30:55,160 --> 00:30:57,157
that we have to try to go work.

727
00:30:57,157 --> 00:30:59,520
They're ones that are
gonna take me more time,

728
00:30:59,520 --> 00:31:02,430
us more time to try to
get you a better answer.

729
00:31:02,430 --> 00:31:07,430
On IT, we have our team
building together strategies

730
00:31:07,840 --> 00:31:08,963
of what it would take.

731
00:31:09,860 --> 00:31:11,180
Where could we invest?

732
00:31:11,180 --> 00:31:15,593
What could we do to improve
the work environment?

733
00:31:17,500 --> 00:31:19,680
We are collecting metrics
on what we're losing

734
00:31:19,680 --> 00:31:22,740
from productivity because the IT is down,

735
00:31:22,740 --> 00:31:24,320
and we're starting to use those.

736
00:31:24,320 --> 00:31:26,420
I am starting to do those, and messages

737
00:31:26,420 --> 00:31:27,920
that I'm giving the senior leaders

738
00:31:27,920 --> 00:31:29,810
about how important this is,

739
00:31:29,810 --> 00:31:32,500
for you to be able to do your mission.

740
00:31:32,500 --> 00:31:35,023
We are also one of the test cases for 5G.

741
00:31:36,100 --> 00:31:38,800
Hill Air Force Base, is
one of the 5G test cases.

742
00:31:38,800 --> 00:31:41,190
We'll see how that
plays out, and we'll see

743
00:31:41,190 --> 00:31:43,710
if we can grow that even further.

744
00:31:43,710 --> 00:31:46,230
So that's what we're kinda
doing in the IT area.

745
00:31:46,230 --> 00:31:48,360
On the communications piece,

746
00:31:48,360 --> 00:31:50,010
we're having a virtual Town Hall.

747
00:31:51,360 --> 00:31:52,830
That's a lot of communication.

748
00:31:52,830 --> 00:31:54,660
The goal is to let you know how important

749
00:31:54,660 --> 00:31:57,770
what you're doing is,
and how it contributes.

750
00:31:57,770 --> 00:31:59,820
Another one that we just did last week,

751
00:31:59,820 --> 00:32:01,720
that may or may not have made it out

752
00:32:01,720 --> 00:32:04,700
into a lot of the media
yet, General Holmes,

753
00:32:04,700 --> 00:32:06,050
the Air Combat Command Commander

754
00:32:06,050 --> 00:32:09,770
and I signed an agreement
that we're gonna attach

755
00:32:09,770 --> 00:32:14,250
or align program offices
with mission wings,

756
00:32:14,250 --> 00:32:17,880
and we're gonna foster a
dialogue, and a communication

757
00:32:17,880 --> 00:32:19,310
between that mission wing

758
00:32:19,310 --> 00:32:21,340
and what they're doing
on a day to day basis,

759
00:32:21,340 --> 00:32:24,950
and how the program office,
and the sustainment center,

760
00:32:24,950 --> 00:32:27,490
and the research lab, and
everybody who are contributing

761
00:32:27,490 --> 00:32:29,540
to getting that mission done.

762
00:32:29,540 --> 00:32:31,160
We did it with Air Combat Command first,

763
00:32:31,160 --> 00:32:32,390
because quite frankly they had

764
00:32:32,390 --> 00:32:34,660
the biggest portfolio programs.

765
00:32:34,660 --> 00:32:36,450
We're gonna grow that out into each

766
00:32:36,450 --> 00:32:39,940
of the other major
commands. to try to give you

767
00:32:39,940 --> 00:32:41,780
a better sense of how what you're doing

768
00:32:41,780 --> 00:32:46,270
contributes to the mission,
and gives them an opportunity

769
00:32:46,270 --> 00:32:48,040
to better understand what you're doing,

770
00:32:48,040 --> 00:32:50,510
and some of the challenges you face.

771
00:32:50,510 --> 00:32:53,160
We are on a communications journey.

772
00:32:53,160 --> 00:32:56,160
A lot of it was internal,
we're doing some of that here.

773
00:32:56,160 --> 00:32:57,900
We're working some other things.

774
00:32:57,900 --> 00:33:00,540
We're sending out more
emails about things.

775
00:33:00,540 --> 00:33:02,840
I know you're reading some of it.

776
00:33:02,840 --> 00:33:05,320
I got an email from someone telling me

777
00:33:05,320 --> 00:33:08,130
I had a grammatical error in my message

778
00:33:08,130 --> 00:33:10,950
that I sent out on
mentoring the other day.

779
00:33:10,950 --> 00:33:14,410
I sent an apology email,
and all I will say is,

780
00:33:14,410 --> 00:33:17,120
Mrs. Ware, my junior
teacher in high school

781
00:33:17,120 --> 00:33:19,600
who told me I would
never amount to anything

782
00:33:19,600 --> 00:33:21,240
is very disappointed right now.

783
00:33:21,240 --> 00:33:23,190
So, we'll try to do better on that one.

784
00:33:24,180 --> 00:33:27,560
Two weeks ago we were out at New York City

785
00:33:27,560 --> 00:33:30,070
talking to a bunch of
think tanks and leaders,

786
00:33:30,070 --> 00:33:30,960
so we're really trying

787
00:33:30,960 --> 00:33:33,110
to get after the communications piece.

788
00:33:33,110 --> 00:33:35,253
One more, I'll touch on leadership.

789
00:33:36,290 --> 00:33:38,990
We are working within the headquarters,

790
00:33:38,990 --> 00:33:40,080
we're working with a test center,

791
00:33:40,080 --> 00:33:42,710
we're working with a sustainment center

792
00:33:42,710 --> 00:33:45,210
to get after one of the big
issues you brought forward

793
00:33:45,210 --> 00:33:49,330
that you do not believe
our first level supervisors

794
00:33:49,330 --> 00:33:52,150
are getting the training
they need in many cases,

795
00:33:52,150 --> 00:33:55,140
and they're not holding
people accountable.

796
00:33:55,140 --> 00:33:57,720
That training we're working on.

797
00:33:57,720 --> 00:34:00,730
The accountability piece is
in all of our discussions

798
00:34:00,730 --> 00:34:04,550
at our squadron commander
materiel leader classes,

799
00:34:04,550 --> 00:34:06,430
and we're having those
dialogues to make sure

800
00:34:06,430 --> 00:34:08,100
we're holding the people accountable

801
00:34:08,100 --> 00:34:10,390
that aren't doing their mission.

802
00:34:10,390 --> 00:34:11,223
- [Wendy] Sir, thank you.

803
00:34:11,223 --> 00:34:12,710
- Can I hit on that a
little bit there too.

804
00:34:12,710 --> 00:34:15,410
So as you heard, General Bunch
mentioned 80,000 comments,

805
00:34:15,410 --> 00:34:17,590
so lots of feedback.

806
00:34:17,590 --> 00:34:20,360
The other effort that
General Bunch has setup

807
00:34:22,148 --> 00:34:27,148
is we set up an office to say
commanders initiative office

808
00:34:27,150 --> 00:34:28,590
within the headquarters here,

809
00:34:28,590 --> 00:34:30,880
to kind of look at those comments,

810
00:34:30,880 --> 00:34:32,090
and kind of pull those together,

811
00:34:32,090 --> 00:34:34,600
and make recommended changes
and things are going.

812
00:34:34,600 --> 00:34:37,830
So that office is on there,
and they're sitting there now,

813
00:34:37,830 --> 00:34:39,000
looking through these comments,

814
00:34:39,000 --> 00:34:40,600
going through them and trying to help us

815
00:34:40,600 --> 00:34:42,200
decipher them, and kind of get back

816
00:34:42,200 --> 00:34:43,710
and get after those types of issues.

817
00:34:43,710 --> 00:34:45,820
So, this is not something
that just kind of

818
00:34:45,820 --> 00:34:47,730
took those comments and just let 'em go.

819
00:34:47,730 --> 00:34:50,610
He's actually invested
time, and invested energy

820
00:34:50,610 --> 00:34:52,810
and personnel into kind
of hearing from you,

821
00:34:52,810 --> 00:34:55,020
and kind of looking at
those those comments.

822
00:34:55,020 --> 00:34:55,853
- Sir you want to comment?

823
00:34:55,853 --> 00:34:57,047
- Yeah, I got one other
one I gotta throw in,

824
00:34:57,047 --> 00:34:58,670
and I'm glad you brought up the team

825
00:34:58,670 --> 00:35:00,400
that works under General Schaefer,

826
00:35:00,400 --> 00:35:02,810
and I get a monthly review
of what they're doing,

827
00:35:02,810 --> 00:35:04,040
and another one that I should have

828
00:35:04,040 --> 00:35:06,290
talked about that I didn't.

829
00:35:06,290 --> 00:35:08,600
We are trying to cut our hiring timelines.

830
00:35:08,600 --> 00:35:10,350
We're working our way through that.

831
00:35:11,590 --> 00:35:14,150
We did like a 10% reduction last year,

832
00:35:14,150 --> 00:35:17,150
we did 19% the year before.

833
00:35:17,150 --> 00:35:19,100
We are really trying to get after this.

834
00:35:19,100 --> 00:35:21,830
We're expanding out what
we're doing to try to hire,

835
00:35:21,830 --> 00:35:23,660
so that we can use different authorities.

836
00:35:23,660 --> 00:35:26,450
we're making a lot of
progress in that area.

837
00:35:26,450 --> 00:35:28,560
We also gave back time off awards

838
00:35:28,560 --> 00:35:31,339
is something that can be done
under the AcqDemo closeout.

839
00:35:31,339 --> 00:35:34,020
That was one you asked
for that we put in place.

840
00:35:34,020 --> 00:35:37,810
So we are taking a lot of
steps on these initiatives.

841
00:35:37,810 --> 00:35:40,860
Some of the comments that came back,

842
00:35:40,860 --> 00:35:44,190
we labeled as very negative comments.

843
00:35:44,190 --> 00:35:46,430
That's probably not exactly
the vernacular we used

844
00:35:46,430 --> 00:35:48,210
but it's close enough.

845
00:35:48,210 --> 00:35:50,910
And what we did was, we
made sure those of course,

846
00:35:50,910 --> 00:35:53,000
we're not attributable to anybody,

847
00:35:53,000 --> 00:35:55,500
but if they highlighted
problems that we had,

848
00:35:55,500 --> 00:35:58,960
we took those things and
parsed them to the right teams

849
00:35:58,960 --> 00:36:01,290
to go look at whether we
needed to take more aggressive

850
00:36:01,290 --> 00:36:02,990
action to try to get after things.

851
00:36:05,040 --> 00:36:07,800
- So as part of the AFMC we need.

852
00:36:07,800 --> 00:36:10,600
We just launched a new
initiative called Idea Scale.

853
00:36:10,600 --> 00:36:12,670
Chief, can you can you
talk a little bit about

854
00:36:12,670 --> 00:36:14,810
what Idea Scale is, and what kind of ideas

855
00:36:14,810 --> 00:36:16,990
are you looking at from
across the command?

856
00:36:16,990 --> 00:36:20,460
- Great, thanks Wendy, so Idea
Scale's another initiative

857
00:36:20,460 --> 00:36:21,420
that we've got out there.

858
00:36:21,420 --> 00:36:23,390
We know that there's innovation going on

859
00:36:23,390 --> 00:36:24,500
within this command.

860
00:36:24,500 --> 00:36:27,440
We've got great individuals out there

861
00:36:27,440 --> 00:36:29,070
who are doing innovative things

862
00:36:29,070 --> 00:36:31,159
each and every day,
trying to do their jobs,

863
00:36:31,159 --> 00:36:36,159
figure out ways to do jobs
smarter, faster, safer, easier,

864
00:36:37,470 --> 00:36:38,683
and those are happening.

865
00:36:39,615 --> 00:36:40,620
We see it all the time.

866
00:36:40,620 --> 00:36:42,990
So Idea Scale is just an opportunity

867
00:36:42,990 --> 00:36:46,414
to get your feedback, to
kind of bring those ideas in,

868
00:36:46,414 --> 00:36:48,800
in a format that we can
kind of look through

869
00:36:48,800 --> 00:36:50,390
and kind of hear, and kind of figure out

870
00:36:50,390 --> 00:36:53,250
which one of those ideas do
we need to kind of invest in,

871
00:36:53,250 --> 00:36:56,590
to kinda make sure that we're getting

872
00:36:56,590 --> 00:36:59,590
kind of action behind, and
kind of bringing those up

873
00:36:59,590 --> 00:37:04,590
to make 'em happen, to really
get them going for you.

874
00:37:04,660 --> 00:37:06,740
That's really what we're
trying to do with Idea Scale,

875
00:37:06,740 --> 00:37:10,060
but the big picture piece
is, it's not individuals

876
00:37:10,060 --> 00:37:11,330
that are up in the headquarters.

877
00:37:11,330 --> 00:37:12,400
Well there's great Americans

878
00:37:12,400 --> 00:37:14,790
working up here in the
headquarters, the reality is,

879
00:37:14,790 --> 00:37:17,890
is the great ideas are coming
from people down in the field,

880
00:37:17,890 --> 00:37:21,180
whether that's at our depots
or whether that's at Wings,

881
00:37:21,180 --> 00:37:22,650
or down at the Squadron level.

882
00:37:22,650 --> 00:37:25,400
It's people out there doing
the job each and every day,

883
00:37:25,400 --> 00:37:27,120
and they're doing great things,

884
00:37:27,120 --> 00:37:29,020
and they say hey I got an idea,

885
00:37:29,020 --> 00:37:30,710
I think we can do this better.

886
00:37:30,710 --> 00:37:32,600
And what do I do with that idea?

887
00:37:32,600 --> 00:37:35,100
Well here's an opportunity just to go

888
00:37:35,100 --> 00:37:37,050
to log on to Idea Scale, put it in there,

889
00:37:37,050 --> 00:37:40,680
tell us what you think,
and give us that feedback,

890
00:37:40,680 --> 00:37:42,560
and let us get the experts in there

891
00:37:42,560 --> 00:37:44,550
to kind of look through that,
and kind of evaluate it,

892
00:37:44,550 --> 00:37:46,310
and see if that's something
we can make happen,

893
00:37:46,310 --> 00:37:48,259
and maybe spread it across the force,

894
00:37:48,259 --> 00:37:51,920
and a bigger impact
across our entire force.

895
00:37:51,920 --> 00:37:54,400
The reality is, is we're
looking for your feedback.

896
00:37:54,400 --> 00:37:56,350
We need that information.

897
00:37:56,350 --> 00:37:58,550
If we're gonna get better,
we can't keep doing things

898
00:37:58,550 --> 00:37:59,650
as we've been doing them.

899
00:37:59,650 --> 00:38:03,300
We gotta look for inventive
ways, and that's you,

900
00:38:03,300 --> 00:38:04,630
that's you out there.

901
00:38:04,630 --> 00:38:07,150
So, what I would ask is supervisors,

902
00:38:07,150 --> 00:38:11,500
sometimes I know we're the
worst sometimes, right.

903
00:38:11,500 --> 00:38:14,450
We've been doing things
one way for a long time,

904
00:38:14,450 --> 00:38:17,740
and we'll look at it and say,
no, I don't see anything.

905
00:38:17,740 --> 00:38:20,650
I would ask you to kind
of take a look at that,

906
00:38:20,650 --> 00:38:24,140
kinda retool your thinking,
kinda look for those ideas.

907
00:38:24,140 --> 00:38:27,600
Encourage your folks out
there to kind of look

908
00:38:27,600 --> 00:38:28,950
for better ways of doing things,

909
00:38:28,950 --> 00:38:31,620
and ask them to put those ideas in there,

910
00:38:31,620 --> 00:38:34,090
help us to get better at what we're doing.

911
00:38:34,090 --> 00:38:36,890
The reality is, is we don't need anybody.

912
00:38:36,890 --> 00:38:39,150
You don't have to ask for
permission to put 'em in there.

913
00:38:39,150 --> 00:38:41,950
You can go in there and put
an idea in Idea Scale today.

914
00:38:43,543 --> 00:38:45,110
So I hope you will, I hope you help us

915
00:38:45,110 --> 00:38:46,770
to make things better,
because that's really

916
00:38:46,770 --> 00:38:49,580
what we gotta if we're
gonna continue to be

917
00:38:49,580 --> 00:38:53,380
the best Air Force, and
the most powerful air force

918
00:38:53,380 --> 00:38:56,100
in the world, we need your ideas

919
00:38:56,100 --> 00:38:58,150
to kinda keep us on line there.

920
00:38:58,150 --> 00:39:00,740
- The only thing I'd add to that, Chief,

921
00:39:00,740 --> 00:39:02,800
is that we don't do the hard work,

922
00:39:02,800 --> 00:39:05,170
you do out in the field
each and every day.

923
00:39:05,170 --> 00:39:08,290
So keep those ideas coming
in, and the reality of it is,

924
00:39:08,290 --> 00:39:10,980
none of us is as smart as all of us.

925
00:39:10,980 --> 00:39:13,750
We need to harvest those
good ideas from everyone,

926
00:39:13,750 --> 00:39:14,890
and be able to bring those in

927
00:39:14,890 --> 00:39:17,490
so that we can make the command operate

928
00:39:17,490 --> 00:39:20,400
more efficiently, more
effectively, faster,

929
00:39:20,400 --> 00:39:23,390
so that we are better
enabling the Air Force

930
00:39:23,390 --> 00:39:25,560
to do its mission each and every day.

931
00:39:25,560 --> 00:39:26,590
- Okay, thank you.

932
00:39:26,590 --> 00:39:29,530
So, also something that
was addressed in the AFMC,

933
00:39:29,530 --> 00:39:31,680
we need to be holding leaders accountable.

934
00:39:31,680 --> 00:39:33,780
Obviously, many of us
are aware of, you know,

935
00:39:33,780 --> 00:39:36,370
recent leadership changes
across the command.

936
00:39:36,370 --> 00:39:38,710
Could you address that
for for the audience here?

937
00:39:38,710 --> 00:39:41,110
- So I won't talk any specifics here.

938
00:39:41,110 --> 00:39:45,780
What I will say is, leadership and command

939
00:39:45,780 --> 00:39:49,280
is a sacred trust that
you get, and you go run.

940
00:39:49,280 --> 00:39:51,280
There is no higher calling
than being a leader

941
00:39:51,280 --> 00:39:52,273
in our Air Force.

942
00:39:53,160 --> 00:39:55,040
That to me, if you're wearing the uniform,

943
00:39:55,040 --> 00:39:58,140
that's what many of us have tried to get

944
00:39:58,140 --> 00:39:59,293
to the point we are.

945
00:40:00,150 --> 00:40:02,053
If you're in those roles, lead.

946
00:40:03,130 --> 00:40:05,750
We take anything very seriously.

947
00:40:05,750 --> 00:40:07,180
We expect everybody to hold up

948
00:40:07,180 --> 00:40:08,780
the standards we're looking for.

949
00:40:11,010 --> 00:40:15,953
So, all I will say is,
leadership is critical.

950
00:40:17,130 --> 00:40:20,700
We need you to lead, and
we're gonna hold all of us

951
00:40:20,700 --> 00:40:22,340
accountable for what we do.

952
00:40:22,340 --> 00:40:23,540
- Sir, thank you.

953
00:40:23,540 --> 00:40:25,950
So when we talk about retention,

954
00:40:25,950 --> 00:40:27,760
why our civilian Airmen only offered

955
00:40:27,760 --> 00:40:31,960
75% of tuition assistance,
while military provided 100%?

956
00:40:31,960 --> 00:40:34,690
Considering many civilians
serve for over 30 years,

957
00:40:34,690 --> 00:40:37,693
isn't higher tuition assistance
a retention incentive?

958
00:40:38,540 --> 00:40:40,900
- It can be, such a great question.

959
00:40:40,900 --> 00:40:45,900
So, what I would say is given
that we have over 65,000,

960
00:40:46,240 --> 00:40:49,970
I think, civilian airmen
within the command.

961
00:40:49,970 --> 00:40:51,610
There becomes a budgetary limit

962
00:40:51,610 --> 00:40:53,400
on how much we spend in these areas

963
00:40:53,400 --> 00:40:55,800
that we have to take account for.

964
00:40:55,800 --> 00:40:59,030
It's not perfect, but we
have made some strides.

965
00:40:59,030 --> 00:41:02,330
We've opened it up now to
go for associate's degrees.

966
00:41:02,330 --> 00:41:04,090
We've opened up the opportunity to take

967
00:41:04,090 --> 00:41:07,680
more than one class at a
time with tuition assistance.

968
00:41:07,680 --> 00:41:11,230
We've tried to make the
program more usable and better.

969
00:41:11,230 --> 00:41:13,760
Where we haven't been able
to maybe get everything

970
00:41:13,760 --> 00:41:16,410
with tuition assistance,
we've tried to use

971
00:41:16,410 --> 00:41:19,890
the Acquisition Workforce
Development Funds,

972
00:41:19,890 --> 00:41:22,220
and that's another one that
we'll have to go look at,

973
00:41:22,220 --> 00:41:24,220
and see what we can supplement training

974
00:41:24,220 --> 00:41:25,750
and everything else with.

975
00:41:25,750 --> 00:41:27,430
That one's a little more challenging now,

976
00:41:27,430 --> 00:41:29,170
because we're in a budget
constraint environment

977
00:41:29,170 --> 00:41:31,900
in some cases, and we're
trying to watch that.

978
00:41:31,900 --> 00:41:36,900
The other one I would encourage
our airmen to utilize,

979
00:41:36,940 --> 00:41:39,670
the Civilian Developmental
Education Program.

980
00:41:39,670 --> 00:41:42,493
That window to apply
is open through March.

981
00:41:43,580 --> 00:41:45,320
We offer a lot opportunities to do things

982
00:41:45,320 --> 00:41:47,620
like Squadron Officer School.

983
00:41:47,620 --> 00:41:50,287
We do some fellowships, we do Air Command

984
00:41:50,287 --> 00:41:53,220
and Staff College, Air War College.

985
00:41:53,220 --> 00:41:55,740
I would encourage you to
look for those opportunities

986
00:41:55,740 --> 00:41:59,230
to grow your knowledge base
and increase your knowledge,

987
00:41:59,230 --> 00:42:01,410
and be able to move out on that.

988
00:42:01,410 --> 00:42:03,630
So, I can't give you a great
answer that I'm gonna move it,

989
00:42:03,630 --> 00:42:06,110
or go try to get it to 100.

990
00:42:06,110 --> 00:42:09,980
I can say that it's a pretty
good program to give you 75%,

991
00:42:09,980 --> 00:42:12,120
to try to get an
Associate's, or a Bachelor's,

992
00:42:12,120 --> 00:42:16,340
or a Master's, or a Doctorate,
and we will continue

993
00:42:16,340 --> 00:42:19,500
to look at ways to make it
as user friendly as we can

994
00:42:19,500 --> 00:42:21,130
and open that aperture.

995
00:42:21,130 --> 00:42:23,520
- Thank you, so we've had
several questions come in

996
00:42:23,520 --> 00:42:26,820
on the Fit 4 Life Fitness
Program and Sustainment Center.

997
00:42:26,820 --> 00:42:28,490
Can you provide an update on that?

998
00:42:28,490 --> 00:42:32,210
- So right as we did our
first virtual Town Hall,

999
00:42:32,210 --> 00:42:34,910
was when that kind of got released,

1000
00:42:34,910 --> 00:42:37,530
and at the time, it said it was suspended,

1001
00:42:37,530 --> 00:42:41,800
and it was in August, when it was done.

1002
00:42:41,800 --> 00:42:43,840
Right now, it's still suspended.

1003
00:42:43,840 --> 00:42:45,934
General Kirkland and his
team will relook at it

1004
00:42:45,934 --> 00:42:48,210
in August of this year,

1005
00:42:48,210 --> 00:42:50,520
and then they will let me
know what they've decided

1006
00:42:50,520 --> 00:42:52,110
based on the facts that they found,

1007
00:42:52,110 --> 00:42:54,680
and the data and how the
productivity is going.

1008
00:42:54,680 --> 00:42:57,490
So it's still suspended for right now.

1009
00:42:57,490 --> 00:43:01,890
You can still utilize, if
you're a government civilian,

1010
00:43:01,890 --> 00:43:05,580
you still utilize all the
fitness facilities at no cost,

1011
00:43:05,580 --> 00:43:09,680
and we know that's
something that's out there,

1012
00:43:09,680 --> 00:43:10,810
and we will look at it,

1013
00:43:10,810 --> 00:43:13,590
and we'll give you a
better answer later on.

1014
00:43:13,590 --> 00:43:14,780
- Okay, thank you.

1015
00:43:14,780 --> 00:43:16,730
So it's another one
that came in online is,

1016
00:43:16,730 --> 00:43:18,235
when can we expect to find out about

1017
00:43:18,235 --> 00:43:21,380
the Senior Leader Enlisted
Commissioning Program results?

1018
00:43:21,380 --> 00:43:24,250
- Yeah, so that's a great question.

1019
00:43:24,250 --> 00:43:25,890
Let me talk to you a little
bit about the process,

1020
00:43:25,890 --> 00:43:29,293
because that seems to
confuse folks sometimes.

1021
00:43:30,629 --> 00:43:32,840
So, the way the process works is,

1022
00:43:32,840 --> 00:43:35,540
this is an opportunity for senior leaders

1023
00:43:35,540 --> 00:43:37,640
to look and select individuals

1024
00:43:37,640 --> 00:43:40,920
to go to commissioning
sources, whether that's ROTC,

1025
00:43:40,920 --> 00:43:42,870
or whether that's some other

1026
00:43:42,870 --> 00:43:44,960
commissioning source around there.

1027
00:43:44,960 --> 00:43:48,490
Most of them are in the
ROTC or OTS lanes there,

1028
00:43:48,490 --> 00:43:52,440
but the way that process
works is senior leaders,

1029
00:43:52,440 --> 00:43:54,740
usually four star commanders,

1030
00:43:54,740 --> 00:43:56,830
some other HAF staff level,

1031
00:43:56,830 --> 00:43:58,000
some of our senior leaders out there,

1032
00:43:58,000 --> 00:44:01,373
they selected individuals
as an opportunity to say,

1033
00:44:03,538 --> 00:44:05,810
and obviously the package goes up,

1034
00:44:05,810 --> 00:44:08,090
there's a board that's held,

1035
00:44:08,090 --> 00:44:09,600
and those individuals are selected,

1036
00:44:09,600 --> 00:44:13,870
but before the announcements are made,

1037
00:44:13,870 --> 00:44:16,160
we look across the whole spectrum,

1038
00:44:16,160 --> 00:44:18,340
just to make sure that
we're not missing anything,

1039
00:44:18,340 --> 00:44:21,073
make sure that we've
dotted all of our T's,

1040
00:44:22,335 --> 00:44:23,830
or dotted our Is, crossed our Ts,

1041
00:44:23,830 --> 00:44:26,460
and we've done all of our
homework for that process.

1042
00:44:26,460 --> 00:44:28,501
So that's really kind of
what's happening right now.

1043
00:44:28,501 --> 00:44:31,530
Bottom line is, once that we get the okay

1044
00:44:31,530 --> 00:44:33,650
from the HAF staff, that we
can release those results,

1045
00:44:33,650 --> 00:44:35,110
we will absolutely do that.

1046
00:44:35,110 --> 00:44:36,240
It should be coming soon.

1047
00:44:36,240 --> 00:44:38,630
I think it's scheduled
within the next two weeks,

1048
00:44:38,630 --> 00:44:40,810
but we'll get an answer on that for sure,

1049
00:44:40,810 --> 00:44:42,860
and get back, provide that for you,

1050
00:44:42,860 --> 00:44:44,330
the follow on piece here.

1051
00:44:44,330 --> 00:44:46,797
- Thank you, so Chief, while we're at you,

1052
00:44:46,797 --> 00:44:49,610
can you talk a little bit about why do we

1053
00:44:49,610 --> 00:44:52,080
still require official photos
and fitness score sheets

1054
00:44:52,080 --> 00:44:53,317
for the Outstanding Airman of the Year,

1055
00:44:53,317 --> 00:44:56,270
and not for Senior NCO
Enlisted Promotion Boards,

1056
00:44:56,270 --> 00:44:58,030
especially E8, and E9.

1057
00:44:58,030 --> 00:45:00,699
- Yeah, so this question
comes up occasionally,

1058
00:45:00,699 --> 00:45:03,530
and it's a great question
when you start looking at it.

1059
00:45:03,530 --> 00:45:05,023
It's like, why do we do this?

1060
00:45:06,556 --> 00:45:07,500
There seems to be a disconnect there,

1061
00:45:07,500 --> 00:45:09,590
but I tell you, I don't
really think there is.

1062
00:45:09,590 --> 00:45:12,140
I see those as two separate processes.

1063
00:45:12,140 --> 00:45:14,440
When we start talking about promotion,

1064
00:45:14,440 --> 00:45:17,660
we don't currently provide photos

1065
00:45:17,660 --> 00:45:19,550
for promotion boards to consider,

1066
00:45:19,550 --> 00:45:22,550
and when we're really look at
promotions we're looking at,

1067
00:45:22,550 --> 00:45:25,220
who do we think could
perform at that next level?

1068
00:45:25,220 --> 00:45:29,803
Who's ready to perform at
whatever that next rank level is?

1069
00:45:29,803 --> 00:45:32,040
And we kind of look at their
background, their history,

1070
00:45:32,040 --> 00:45:33,700
and then we look at the potential to serve

1071
00:45:33,700 --> 00:45:35,170
in that next higher role,

1072
00:45:35,170 --> 00:45:38,540
but when we're looking at,
for selecting someone for

1073
00:45:38,540 --> 00:45:40,330
12 outstanding every year,

1074
00:45:40,330 --> 00:45:44,650
this is one of our premier
programs within our force,

1075
00:45:44,650 --> 00:45:47,900
so we're trying to recognize
those experts in their field

1076
00:45:47,900 --> 00:45:49,520
who are doing outstanding things,

1077
00:45:49,520 --> 00:45:53,593
and really representing our
force to the American public.

1078
00:45:54,795 --> 00:45:57,220
As part of that is there is
a little bit of a looking at

1079
00:45:57,220 --> 00:45:59,870
making sure that they're
meeting standards,

1080
00:45:59,870 --> 00:46:03,121
and there's nothing that would surprise us

1081
00:46:03,121 --> 00:46:05,000
from a photo, so it does it,

1082
00:46:05,000 --> 00:46:07,060
but the bigger picture
piece I think is that

1083
00:46:07,060 --> 00:46:11,280
we're also using those photos, as ways

1084
00:46:11,280 --> 00:46:13,760
for those people selected
to highlight them

1085
00:46:13,760 --> 00:46:15,990
around our force, whether they're gonna be

1086
00:46:15,990 --> 00:46:17,740
displayed in magazines.

1087
00:46:17,740 --> 00:46:21,140
If you go over here in
Dayton, to the National Museum

1088
00:46:21,140 --> 00:46:22,940
of the Air Force one of the walls you see

1089
00:46:22,940 --> 00:46:24,490
is our 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year.

1090
00:46:24,490 --> 00:46:26,950
Those photos are displayed up there.

1091
00:46:26,950 --> 00:46:29,190
They're also displayed at the Pentagon,

1092
00:46:29,190 --> 00:46:31,080
at the headquarters Air Force.

1093
00:46:31,080 --> 00:46:34,720
So I think there is value
in having those photos

1094
00:46:34,720 --> 00:46:36,320
for the the 12 Outstanding
Airmen of the Year,

1095
00:46:36,320 --> 00:46:39,100
but I don't think that
that makes sense to do 'em

1096
00:46:39,100 --> 00:46:40,910
for our promotion boards.

1097
00:46:40,910 --> 00:46:42,413
I draw a difference in there.

1098
00:46:43,404 --> 00:46:46,270
- So, the topic that's
been on everybody's mind

1099
00:46:46,270 --> 00:46:48,300
across the Air Force is the stand up

1100
00:46:48,300 --> 00:46:49,690
with the Space Force, of course.

1101
00:46:49,690 --> 00:46:52,050
So can you talk a little
bit about how you anticipate

1102
00:46:52,050 --> 00:46:55,960
that will affect AFMC and what
opportunities might there be

1103
00:46:55,960 --> 00:46:57,960
if somebody wants to
transfer into Space Force

1104
00:46:57,960 --> 00:46:59,800
in the uniform side.

1105
00:46:59,800 --> 00:47:02,370
- That's a great question,
and there is a lot going on,

1106
00:47:02,370 --> 00:47:04,440
and I would encourage
you to read all the news,

1107
00:47:04,440 --> 00:47:08,270
and daily you're seeing a lot of articles,

1108
00:47:08,270 --> 00:47:09,700
there are a lot of moving pieces,

1109
00:47:09,700 --> 00:47:12,620
so I'll give you where
I think we are today,

1110
00:47:12,620 --> 00:47:14,460
and I'm sure some of this will change,

1111
00:47:14,460 --> 00:47:16,690
but I'll tell you where
we're at right now.

1112
00:47:16,690 --> 00:47:20,020
For Air Force Materiel
Command and the airmen

1113
00:47:20,020 --> 00:47:23,160
that work within Air
Force Materiel Command,

1114
00:47:23,160 --> 00:47:26,350
I don't see a ton of change immediately

1115
00:47:26,350 --> 00:47:29,020
with what we're doing
on a day to day basis.

1116
00:47:29,020 --> 00:47:31,778
We are still gonna
provide the installation

1117
00:47:31,778 --> 00:47:34,470
mission support for everybody.

1118
00:47:34,470 --> 00:47:36,020
That's not gonna change.

1119
00:47:36,020 --> 00:47:38,260
We will continue to do that.

1120
00:47:38,260 --> 00:47:43,260
We will continue to do research
in science and technology

1121
00:47:43,410 --> 00:47:45,693
to support the Space Force.

1122
00:47:46,750 --> 00:47:51,750
We may make a change to where
some of those individuals

1123
00:47:52,450 --> 00:47:54,370
are part of the Space Force,

1124
00:47:54,370 --> 00:47:57,743
but they work in the Air
Force Research Laboratory.

1125
00:47:59,040 --> 00:48:02,550
But that may not be limited
to one particular directorate,

1126
00:48:02,550 --> 00:48:04,150
because the way that I look at it,

1127
00:48:04,150 --> 00:48:07,210
technology doesn't really
know its applicability

1128
00:48:07,210 --> 00:48:08,610
until you tell it.

1129
00:48:08,610 --> 00:48:13,450
So last year, the team that
won the Outstanding Team Award,

1130
00:48:13,450 --> 00:48:17,110
and a certain criteria
that dealt with space,

1131
00:48:17,110 --> 00:48:20,820
was a space situational awareness,

1132
00:48:20,820 --> 00:48:24,800
and it was out of Rome,
New York, not Kirtland,

1133
00:48:24,800 --> 00:48:26,960
where the Space Vehicles Directorate is,

1134
00:48:26,960 --> 00:48:29,640
and so we will create an environment

1135
00:48:29,640 --> 00:48:32,960
so that the science and
technology we're doing in sensors,

1136
00:48:32,960 --> 00:48:37,960
or in info, or materials,
or human performance,

1137
00:48:38,690 --> 00:48:42,270
all of those, and the
Space Vehicles Directorate

1138
00:48:42,270 --> 00:48:45,020
can all feed back in
to where we need to go

1139
00:48:45,020 --> 00:48:47,920
for the Space Force to
develop that technology,

1140
00:48:47,920 --> 00:48:51,630
and to keep that capability
as a war fighting domain

1141
00:48:51,630 --> 00:48:53,390
to make us dominate in space,

1142
00:48:53,390 --> 00:48:56,213
which is what we're supposed
to do, and we need to do.

1143
00:48:57,290 --> 00:48:59,460
The other piece that we're talking about

1144
00:48:59,460 --> 00:49:02,530
and we want to make sure
that we look at very much

1145
00:49:02,530 --> 00:49:06,680
as we go forward, we don't
want to create a situation

1146
00:49:06,680 --> 00:49:11,680
where we become so insular with our force

1147
00:49:11,790 --> 00:49:15,550
that people can't go to
the Space Force and back

1148
00:49:15,550 --> 00:49:18,420
in an acquisition type an environment.

1149
00:49:18,420 --> 00:49:20,970
If it's communications, well
communications could apply

1150
00:49:20,970 --> 00:49:23,410
to how we're gonna do,
communicate to space,

1151
00:49:23,410 --> 00:49:26,500
communicate to the Navy,
communicate to anyone,

1152
00:49:26,500 --> 00:49:28,840
we need to create enough permeability

1153
00:49:28,840 --> 00:49:31,270
so that we can move people back and forth

1154
00:49:31,270 --> 00:49:35,230
and develop the right
leaders to be better prepared

1155
00:49:35,230 --> 00:49:39,470
so that we can seamlessly
apply Air and Space power

1156
00:49:39,470 --> 00:49:41,470
to get the nation's missions done.

1157
00:49:41,470 --> 00:49:44,320
So I really don't believe
it's gonna change dramatically

1158
00:49:44,320 --> 00:49:46,720
for us, at least not right now.

1159
00:49:46,720 --> 00:49:50,340
We may have some individuals that become

1160
00:49:50,340 --> 00:49:51,690
part of the Space Force.

1161
00:49:51,690 --> 00:49:53,490
All those things are being worked.

1162
00:49:53,490 --> 00:49:55,403
There's nothing finalized right now,

1163
00:49:57,670 --> 00:49:59,380
but we want to be able to allow people

1164
00:49:59,380 --> 00:50:02,880
to move back and forth,
and what my message

1165
00:50:02,880 --> 00:50:05,640
to AFMC is, we need to make

1166
00:50:05,640 --> 00:50:10,600
General Chief of Space
Ops Raymond successful.

1167
00:50:10,600 --> 00:50:12,210
We need to make it successful,

1168
00:50:12,210 --> 00:50:14,360
because space is a war fighting domain,

1169
00:50:14,360 --> 00:50:16,860
and the work we do for
them each and every day

1170
00:50:16,860 --> 00:50:19,370
is our wartime mission,
and we gotta make sure

1171
00:50:19,370 --> 00:50:22,040
we do it so that we remain
dominant in that environment

1172
00:50:22,040 --> 00:50:24,090
that we count on so heavily.

1173
00:50:24,090 --> 00:50:25,340
- Thanks, so we're down to just

1174
00:50:25,340 --> 00:50:26,580
our last couple questions here,

1175
00:50:26,580 --> 00:50:29,670
but I would be remiss if we
did not ask about the S&T 2030

1176
00:50:29,670 --> 00:50:31,650
and where we are with that strategy.

1177
00:50:31,650 --> 00:50:33,620
- So, great question.

1178
00:50:33,620 --> 00:50:36,610
The Science and Technology 2030 strategy

1179
00:50:36,610 --> 00:50:38,573
was signed out by Secretary Wilson.

1180
00:50:39,610 --> 00:50:41,140
When we first got here,

1181
00:50:41,140 --> 00:50:44,040
when I first arrived I asked the team

1182
00:50:44,040 --> 00:50:46,560
to build an implementation plan,

1183
00:50:46,560 --> 00:50:48,650
and they have built that
implementation plan,

1184
00:50:48,650 --> 00:50:51,543
and we're already off executing
that implementation plan.

1185
00:50:52,580 --> 00:50:54,740
Couple things that are big focus areas

1186
00:50:54,740 --> 00:50:57,240
of the whole S&T 2030.

1187
00:50:57,240 --> 00:51:00,150
Competition, we are in a competition.

1188
00:51:00,150 --> 00:51:02,520
We need ideas to compete, to get funding,

1189
00:51:02,520 --> 00:51:05,500
and to move forward, and if
they're not making the progress

1190
00:51:05,500 --> 00:51:08,680
that we need them to make,
then we're gonna off ramble.

1191
00:51:08,680 --> 00:51:11,820
We need to make sure that
we open up an environment

1192
00:51:11,820 --> 00:51:15,020
where we can take ideas
from academia, industry,

1193
00:51:15,020 --> 00:51:19,040
others, as well as internal
to the research laboratory,

1194
00:51:19,040 --> 00:51:21,470
and be able to take those
and do the right research

1195
00:51:21,470 --> 00:51:22,860
and move that forward.

1196
00:51:22,860 --> 00:51:24,750
So that's a big focus area.

1197
00:51:24,750 --> 00:51:28,760
We have realigned the way we look

1198
00:51:28,760 --> 00:51:30,740
at some of our bigger programs.

1199
00:51:30,740 --> 00:51:34,870
We've established a
process to develop ideas

1200
00:51:34,870 --> 00:51:37,570
and select vanguard programs.

1201
00:51:37,570 --> 00:51:41,600
Vanguard programs, which we
have three of those right now.

1202
00:51:41,600 --> 00:51:43,740
One for space, one for weapons,

1203
00:51:43,740 --> 00:51:46,740
and one for low cost attributable systems,

1204
00:51:46,740 --> 00:51:50,650
and those programs are
we believe game changers

1205
00:51:50,650 --> 00:51:52,830
in the way that we can employ airpower.

1206
00:51:52,830 --> 00:51:55,020
We're managing those programs differently

1207
00:51:55,020 --> 00:51:58,860
than we have in the past,
and this is a big topic

1208
00:51:58,860 --> 00:52:01,820
that we had just last week
with Air Combat Command,

1209
00:52:01,820 --> 00:52:05,100
with General Holmes, and
Dr. Roper, and with the AFMC

1210
00:52:05,100 --> 00:52:06,970
as to how we move forward on those.

1211
00:52:06,970 --> 00:52:09,230
So that one's another big effort.

1212
00:52:09,230 --> 00:52:12,680
So we really have put a
lot of emphasis in it.

1213
00:52:12,680 --> 00:52:14,310
We gotta get the right people.

1214
00:52:14,310 --> 00:52:15,510
That's another big emphasis area.

1215
00:52:15,510 --> 00:52:17,918
How do you get the right people in?

1216
00:52:17,918 --> 00:52:20,030
We built an implementation plan.

1217
00:52:20,030 --> 00:52:22,040
We're probably not moving as quickly

1218
00:52:22,040 --> 00:52:25,080
as some people want us to,
but we're off and running,

1219
00:52:25,080 --> 00:52:26,010
we're on a plan.

1220
00:52:26,010 --> 00:52:28,530
I'm getting regular
updates and I'm very happy

1221
00:52:28,530 --> 00:52:30,660
with how the team's moving forward.

1222
00:52:30,660 --> 00:52:32,520
- Thanks sir, so for
both of you, you know,

1223
00:52:32,520 --> 00:52:34,790
as we we kind of wrap things up here,

1224
00:52:34,790 --> 00:52:37,170
talk about how you find
balance in your life,

1225
00:52:37,170 --> 00:52:38,163
just real briefly.

1226
00:52:39,530 --> 00:52:40,523
- I'll start sir.

1227
00:52:42,640 --> 00:52:46,560
So, I will tell you,
when I think of balance,

1228
00:52:46,560 --> 00:52:49,090
with work-life balance,

1229
00:52:49,090 --> 00:52:50,800
I don't usually use the word balance,

1230
00:52:50,800 --> 00:52:53,410
I kind of use the word
rhythm, because I think

1231
00:52:53,410 --> 00:52:55,270
that it's more like a sine wave,

1232
00:52:55,270 --> 00:53:00,270
and it's sometimes I do better
at home, sometimes I don't,

1233
00:53:00,810 --> 00:53:03,680
and usually the first
vector I get from that

1234
00:53:03,680 --> 00:53:04,950
is usually my spouse.

1235
00:53:04,950 --> 00:53:08,070
Rhonda will tell me when
I don't got it right,

1236
00:53:08,070 --> 00:53:12,460
so, bottom line, I strive to kind of work

1237
00:53:12,460 --> 00:53:16,600
to get a balance in there,
or a sine wave in there,

1238
00:53:16,600 --> 00:53:19,530
however you look at
that, but the reality is,

1239
00:53:19,530 --> 00:53:21,981
is I'm probably not the best at,

1240
00:53:21,981 --> 00:53:22,960
I'm probably not the best example,

1241
00:53:22,960 --> 00:53:25,380
but I do strive to make those times.

1242
00:53:25,380 --> 00:53:28,530
I think that family's important, right.

1243
00:53:28,530 --> 00:53:29,780
It's extremely important.

1244
00:53:31,430 --> 00:53:36,163
So, our families, they
give so much for this,

1245
00:53:37,127 --> 00:53:38,270
to allow us to serve.

1246
00:53:38,270 --> 00:53:40,210
So we owe them to make sure that we are

1247
00:53:40,210 --> 00:53:42,000
spending valuable time with them,

1248
00:53:42,000 --> 00:53:45,280
and my spouse is very good about that.

1249
00:53:45,280 --> 00:53:47,460
Rhonda, she'll let me know
if we don't get it right,

1250
00:53:47,460 --> 00:53:49,230
and we'll work on that.

1251
00:53:49,230 --> 00:53:50,670
We'll spend some time doing other things,

1252
00:53:50,670 --> 00:53:52,890
but I guess what I'm saying is

1253
00:53:52,890 --> 00:53:54,960
it's something that we're
constantly working on,

1254
00:53:54,960 --> 00:53:58,380
constantly looking at,
and kind of evaluating

1255
00:53:58,380 --> 00:54:01,970
each and every day, to kind of
take a look at where am I at?

1256
00:54:01,970 --> 00:54:03,650
Do I need to spend more time at work,

1257
00:54:03,650 --> 00:54:05,420
because there's a project going on,

1258
00:54:05,420 --> 00:54:06,870
there's something going on.

1259
00:54:06,870 --> 00:54:07,840
We got to take care of this,

1260
00:54:07,840 --> 00:54:09,860
or is there some times
where I can say okay, yeah,

1261
00:54:09,860 --> 00:54:11,370
I need to take a little bit of a knee,

1262
00:54:11,370 --> 00:54:14,200
and I gotta focus on things
at home a little bit too.

1263
00:54:14,200 --> 00:54:17,050
So, it's something that we've
constantly got to be after.

1264
00:54:17,989 --> 00:54:22,730
- So, balance, it's always
an interesting dialogue.

1265
00:54:22,730 --> 00:54:26,270
When I went to a group commanders course,

1266
00:54:26,270 --> 00:54:29,510
I had an individual explain
to me, who was our mentor,

1267
00:54:29,510 --> 00:54:31,010
he was a Lieutenant General,

1268
00:54:31,010 --> 00:54:33,550
and I've used his quote ever since then.

1269
00:54:33,550 --> 00:54:36,570
He said anybody that tells
you that they've got work,

1270
00:54:36,570 --> 00:54:39,780
family, spiritual, and fitness, and health

1271
00:54:39,780 --> 00:54:43,813
all perfectly balanced,
those people are liars.

1272
00:54:44,750 --> 00:54:48,530
The reality of it is, it's
never all perfectly balanced,

1273
00:54:48,530 --> 00:54:51,110
and you constantly have to make decisions

1274
00:54:51,110 --> 00:54:53,800
on where you're gonna put your
emphasis and what you need.

1275
00:54:53,800 --> 00:54:57,130
I, much like the Chief, I
spend a great deal of time

1276
00:54:57,130 --> 00:55:01,753
on what I refer to as the WAP,
the Wife Appeasement Plan,

1277
00:55:02,610 --> 00:55:05,090
because I often do get this out of balance

1278
00:55:05,090 --> 00:55:07,240
with the amount of focus
that I put at work,

1279
00:55:07,240 --> 00:55:09,230
and what I'm doing for the mission,

1280
00:55:09,230 --> 00:55:12,223
and there are times that you
have to step away from that.

1281
00:55:13,573 --> 00:55:16,030
I do not want you to run out of family

1282
00:55:16,030 --> 00:55:18,490
before you run out of Air Force.

1283
00:55:18,490 --> 00:55:20,293
Families are critical.

1284
00:55:21,620 --> 00:55:23,550
If you're a military member out there,

1285
00:55:23,550 --> 00:55:25,300
and you've done a bunch of PCSs,

1286
00:55:25,300 --> 00:55:27,653
go home and tell your spouse thank you.

1287
00:55:28,590 --> 00:55:31,500
They are the best value
the American taxpayer gets.

1288
00:55:31,500 --> 00:55:32,853
We don't give 'em a penny,

1289
00:55:34,040 --> 00:55:36,590
And we go do cool jobs in the uniform,

1290
00:55:36,590 --> 00:55:39,750
and they try to find schools, doctors,

1291
00:55:39,750 --> 00:55:43,540
places to worship, sports
teams, all those things.

1292
00:55:43,540 --> 00:55:45,897
So, if you haven't gone
home and said thank you,

1293
00:55:45,897 --> 00:55:47,410
You may be a little out of balance,

1294
00:55:47,410 --> 00:55:49,610
you might need to go
home and say thank you.

1295
00:55:49,610 --> 00:55:52,010
But the reality of it is, there are times

1296
00:55:52,010 --> 00:55:53,960
that the mission's just gotta come first,

1297
00:55:53,960 --> 00:55:56,633
and that's where I will
personally go home and say,

1298
00:55:57,570 --> 00:56:00,693
Caroline, I gotta do this, here we go.

1299
00:56:01,960 --> 00:56:06,780
And there are other times
that I will come here and say,

1300
00:56:06,780 --> 00:56:07,730
you guys got this.

1301
00:56:07,730 --> 00:56:09,140
I gotta to get away for the weekend,

1302
00:56:09,140 --> 00:56:11,110
so that I get back with the family,

1303
00:56:11,110 --> 00:56:13,310
or you need to get that quiet time

1304
00:56:13,310 --> 00:56:15,010
to get your spirituality right,

1305
00:56:15,010 --> 00:56:17,030
and get yourself more comfortable,

1306
00:56:17,030 --> 00:56:19,110
or you've not been working out.

1307
00:56:19,110 --> 00:56:22,930
You gotta get after it, so
it's a constant give and take,

1308
00:56:22,930 --> 00:56:26,780
that I don't believe we ever get perfect,

1309
00:56:26,780 --> 00:56:29,070
but it is one that we
do need to think about,

1310
00:56:29,070 --> 00:56:30,810
and we need to listen to those around us.

1311
00:56:30,810 --> 00:56:34,350
There are times that
we will not understand

1312
00:56:34,350 --> 00:56:35,670
the amount of stress we're under,

1313
00:56:35,670 --> 00:56:38,284
until someone comes to you and says,

1314
00:56:38,284 --> 00:56:42,290
boss, you need a week
off for everybody's sake.

1315
00:56:42,290 --> 00:56:44,460
So we just need to be willing to listen,

1316
00:56:44,460 --> 00:56:46,920
and that's part of
that, knowing each other

1317
00:56:46,920 --> 00:56:50,040
and having that constant communication,

1318
00:56:50,040 --> 00:56:51,760
and being willing to
ask that tough question

1319
00:56:51,760 --> 00:56:53,460
every now and then along the way.

1320
00:56:53,460 --> 00:56:54,480
- Okay, thank you.

1321
00:56:54,480 --> 00:56:56,040
Well this has been a fast hour.

1322
00:56:56,040 --> 00:56:57,710
We're actually almost at
the end of the hour here,

1323
00:56:57,710 --> 00:56:59,060
so I just want to offer you

1324
00:56:59,060 --> 00:57:01,830
some brief parting shots before we go.

1325
00:57:01,830 --> 00:57:05,520
- So thank you, I just want
to say this is the first time

1326
00:57:05,520 --> 00:57:08,070
we've done this in this format
with both of us together,

1327
00:57:08,070 --> 00:57:10,980
really, really, hopefully
get some good feedback

1328
00:57:10,980 --> 00:57:14,090
from you all on what we can do to improve,

1329
00:57:14,090 --> 00:57:17,190
but the reality is, is
this is an opportunity

1330
00:57:17,190 --> 00:57:19,230
for us to kind of share
with you what's going on

1331
00:57:19,230 --> 00:57:21,630
in the command and what's
going on around our Air Force,

1332
00:57:21,630 --> 00:57:22,790
and to hear from you.

1333
00:57:22,790 --> 00:57:26,343
We thank you for spending some
time to that, to hear that.

1334
00:57:27,180 --> 00:57:29,390
If you hear nothing else
from anything I said,

1335
00:57:29,390 --> 00:57:32,600
I just wanted you to hear
this, and that is, thank you.

1336
00:57:32,600 --> 00:57:34,790
Thank you for what you do for our mission.

1337
00:57:34,790 --> 00:57:36,900
Thank you for what you do for our country.

1338
00:57:36,900 --> 00:57:39,810
Thank you for what you do for AFMC.

1339
00:57:39,810 --> 00:57:41,930
As you heard, I truly believe

1340
00:57:41,930 --> 00:57:43,710
this is the most important MAJCOM,

1341
00:57:43,710 --> 00:57:45,380
for all the reasons that you heard,

1342
00:57:45,380 --> 00:57:48,060
and because of that, it's only that way

1343
00:57:48,060 --> 00:57:52,600
because of you and for what
you do for the AFMC family.

1344
00:57:52,600 --> 00:57:54,690
I asked you to think
about some of the things

1345
00:57:54,690 --> 00:57:57,205
we talked about, specifically
about taking care of yourself,

1346
00:57:57,205 --> 00:57:59,810
taking care of those folks
that are standing around you,

1347
00:57:59,810 --> 00:58:03,370
that sit next to you,
that work around you.

1348
00:58:03,370 --> 00:58:04,780
Look out for them.

1349
00:58:04,780 --> 00:58:05,880
Please take care of that.

1350
00:58:05,880 --> 00:58:07,810
We look forward to seeing
you as we come out there

1351
00:58:07,810 --> 00:58:10,880
and visit the installations
around the AFMC.

1352
00:58:10,880 --> 00:58:12,950
Thank you very much, and look forward

1353
00:58:12,950 --> 00:58:14,100
to talking to you soon.

1354
00:58:15,010 --> 00:58:19,810
- So for me, thank you for
taking the time to dial in,

1355
00:58:19,810 --> 00:58:22,043
and watch, and see it all.

1356
00:58:23,970 --> 00:58:25,173
I really appreciate it.

1357
00:58:26,370 --> 00:58:27,830
We do want your feedback.

1358
00:58:27,830 --> 00:58:29,670
If this doesn't work, let us know.

1359
00:58:29,670 --> 00:58:31,970
We'll try to do something else,

1360
00:58:31,970 --> 00:58:33,790
but it's an opportunity for you to get us

1361
00:58:33,790 --> 00:58:37,403
kind of candidly giving
you where we're at.

1362
00:58:39,160 --> 00:58:41,123
Thank you for what you do.

1363
00:58:42,310 --> 00:58:44,913
It is an honor and a
privilege to work for you.

1364
00:58:45,760 --> 00:58:49,970
You are unbelievable, and
you all inspire me every day

1365
00:58:49,970 --> 00:58:54,410
to come to work, and you make
it a joy to come in and enjoy.

1366
00:58:54,410 --> 00:58:59,210
When I come out and
see you, you inspire me

1367
00:58:59,210 --> 00:59:01,050
to go fight another budget battle.

1368
00:59:01,050 --> 00:59:03,710
You inspire me to go to another meeting.

1369
00:59:03,710 --> 00:59:06,490
You inspire me to go
try to remove roadblocks

1370
00:59:06,490 --> 00:59:09,850
and get you the resources you
need to get your mission done,

1371
00:59:09,850 --> 00:59:13,130
because you're the ones that
are doing the tough mission.

1372
00:59:13,130 --> 00:59:15,950
Keep doing your wartime
mission each and every day.

1373
00:59:15,950 --> 00:59:18,760
Lean into with the right sense of urgency.

1374
00:59:18,760 --> 00:59:21,280
We'll get you answers to
all the other questions,

1375
00:59:21,280 --> 00:59:23,990
and if you had some
you didn't want to ask,

1376
00:59:23,990 --> 00:59:26,033
I'm in the Global, okay.

1377
00:59:27,700 --> 00:59:30,340
Open shots fire away, okay.

1378
00:59:30,340 --> 00:59:31,510
Thank you very much.

1379
00:59:31,510 --> 00:59:32,553
- Sir, thank you.

1380
00:59:32,553 --> 00:59:34,580
I appreciate your time
today for both of you.

1381
00:59:34,580 --> 00:59:37,240
I think this was valuable session for all.

1382
00:59:37,240 --> 00:59:39,330
And out there, thank
you too for joining us.

1383
00:59:39,330 --> 00:59:41,670
I'll echo those thoughts,
and just as a reminder

1384
00:59:41,670 --> 00:59:44,530
this whole session will be
on its entirety in Facebook

1385
00:59:44,530 --> 00:59:48,550
as well as the AFMC DVID's
page with the full transcript

1386
00:59:48,550 --> 00:59:50,450
in the coming days here, so thank you.