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SecAF, CSAF visit 386 AEW, talk top priorities with Airmen

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jonathan Hehnly
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFNS) --  Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David L. Goldfein visited the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing at an undisclosed location in Southwest Asia Aug. 19-20, 2017, to talk top priorities with Airmen.

Wilson and Goldfein started their visit with an all call luncheon at the 386th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron’s Desert Winds dining facility where the Air Force’s top leaders addressed the crowd of U.S. service members and joint coalition partners, thanking them for their role in the fight before making their way around the dining facility and interacting with Airmen.

“For the secretary and I, this is our opportunity to look you face to face, to get around to shake your hand and to say thank you to you and your families for serving when your nation needs you most,” said Goldfein. “It matters and I’m proud to be your chief.”

The following day, the 386th AEW hosted a wing town hall where Wilson and Goldfein took center stage to discuss top priorities for the future of the Air Force.

Wilson spoke about the five Air Force Priorities of restoring readiness, cost-effective modernization, leadership development, innovation and strengthening alliances.

“The Air Force of today doesn’t win on its own, and neither do the Army or the Navy, and neither do our coalition partners,” said Wilson. “We have to develop joint leaders, and the chief and I are focused on the squadron as where leadership really matters most. The culture of the Air Force is set at the squadron, not at the headquarters, so we will seek to develop those great joint leaders and teams.”

Goldfein then went on to emphasize the strategic importance of the Airman’s role in supporting and enabling the Iraqis in taking back their country.

“Every Airman matters," he said. "Every mission that we bring here matters.”