General North visits Elmendorf

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Christopher Gross
  • 3rd Wing Public Affiars
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  "Not only are you at the top of the world, but you're at the top of your game," pronounced Gen. Gary North, Pacific Air Forces commander, during an Airmen's Call Dec. 7 in Hangar 1.

Gen. North and Chief Master Sgt Brooke McLean, PACAF command chief master sergeant, paid a visit to Elmendorf Air Force Base Dec. 7-10 as part of their travel to Air Force bases across the Pacific.

During his talk with local Airmen, Gen. North announced Elmendorf was a finalist for the Commander-in-Chief's annual award for Installation Excellence, competing with Dover AFB, Delaware. The evaluation team is expected to visit Elmendorf sometime between Jan. 25-Feb. 10. The general noted that, in addition to prestige, the award brings "a good chunk of money to the base." But to win, he stressed, "depends on each one of you."

"Along the way, it really has been a winning year for the Arctic Warriors," the general continued. "You know you're competing for the Air Force Daedalion Award. You're competing for the Raytheon Trophy. You've met our IG and beat him, and every day you meet all of the mission requirements in the toughest environment Mother Nature has to offer."

Gen. North pointed to future challenges in Alaska, including the efforts to merge with Ft. Richardson into a joint base.

"It's the model for joint basing," he said. "The Army and the Air Force continue in the future as we gain efficiencies by merging and melding those mission sets and the personnel that ensure mission sets are successful." In a separate interview, the general acknowledged the age of Elmendorf's infrastructure, and the need to look at the requirements of new missions, such as the F-22, to insure "Airmen can survive, succeed and excel here at Elmendorf."

He also related some of his own challenges.

"The biggest challenge is how to get around and see all the great Airmen and their families with the amount of time you'd like to be able to see them," he said. "Then, how can you represent the Pacific Air Forces to the rest of our Joint Force and our coalition brothers and sisters here in the Pacific? There are 36 nations in the Pacific, most of which are friendly, and all of which respect our United States Air Force for what we bring in capacity--from humanitarian efforts all the way up to being prepared to fight tonight on the Korean peninsula-- if we have to."

"It's a privilege to be able to watch you work, and for both Chief McLean and I to be able to represent you at the headquarters level," Gen. North added. "Your mission set is so valuable to our nation that it forces the enemies of the world and the enemies of the United States to wake up every morning and say, 'not today.'"

After highlighting examples of Airmen making suggestions for improvements to everything from the Physical Training Uniform to deployment gear, Gen. North and CMSgt McLean underscored their enthusiasm for Elmendorf's Airmen by staying after the presentation to talk with Airmen until the last one left the hangar.