Page 1 - Nellis AFB Bullseye 9-18-15

Vol. 65 No. 37
September 18, 2015

Welsh cites heroes, talks modernization during Air Force Update

By Master Sgt. Amaani Lyle

Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs Office

WASHINGTON — Air Force Chief of U.S. Air Force photo by Scott M. Ash
Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III shared the
spotlight with a cross-section of people Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III makes his Air Force Update address at the Air Force Association’s Air and Space
he called his heroes during an emotional Conference and Technology Exposition Sept. 15 in Washington, D.C.
multimedia presentation at the Air Force
Association’s Air and Space Conference about the people who share it, and there’s explain the concept of lift, the Air Force, programs such as the combat rescue
and Technology Exposition here Sept. 15. something really special about the pride for some people, becomes a passion. helicopter, which he said is tied to the
that consumes them,” Welsh said. fabric of the Air Force.
During his Air Force Update, the gen- And Welsh takes equal pride in the
eral leveraged videos, photos and music He pondered the source of that pride. service’s operational feats as he does in Similarly, while the joint surveillance
to highlight the service’s history, current “Maybe it’s not the airplane that hooks the people to whom he bestowed recogni- target and reconnaissance system is
capabilities and future operational re- you at all,” Welsh said. “In some of the tion during the event. “phenomenal,” it’s time to recapitalize
quirements, while recognizing attendees places our Airmen serve, maybe it’s the this airframe, Welsh said.
and even military therapy dogs who science of flight or maybe it’s the friend- Since Welsh’s last update, the Air
exemplify the Air Force’s core values. ship that captures you.” Force has finished its 24th consecutive He also noted that the service con-
The general said whether it’s a local year of combat operations. tinues its “incredible” success story of
Welsh recognized French train hero air show, simple observation of a civilian launch by Air Force Space Command
Airman 1st Class Spencer Stone, honor- airliner thundering overhead, or even a “No Air Force has ever done that be- and its global partners.
ing him with a surprise promotion to teacher blowing on a piece of paper to fore,” he said.
staff sergeant effective Nov. 1. Stone sews ________ See UPDATE, on page 3
on senior airman in early October. But the “meat and potatoes of the
fight,” Welsh insisted, are equipment
The general wonders, he said, if pio-
neers such as first Air Force Secretary
Stuart Symington, first Air Force Chief
of Staff Gen. Carl Spaatz, and Gen. Henry
“Hap” Arnold, would recognize the same
level of effort in today’s Air Force. He said
he believes so.

In July 2015, for example, Air Force
Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Larry O. Spencer
and Sen. John McCain recognized 2nd
Lt. John Pedevillano, the 306th Bomb
Group’s youngest bombardier who was
shot down during a historic raid, cap-
tured and subsequently liberated from
a prison camp in Germany 70 years ago.

Among others, the general recognized
Air Force Capt. Christy Wise, the HC-
130 King pilot who nearly lost her life
during a paddleboat trip after a fishing
boat claimed her right leg. Wise has since
competed in the Defense Department’s
Warrior Games and is currently prepar-
ing for the Army 10-miler in October.

“There’s just something special about
this profession; there’s something special

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