Photo By Tech. Sgt. Kasey Phipps | The 137th Special Operatios Wing hosted Lt. Gen. L. Scott Rice, director of the Air...... read more read more
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WILL ROGERS AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Okla. -- The 137th Special Operations Wing hosted Lt. Gen. L. Scott Rice, director of the Air National Guard, and Chief Master Sgt. Ronald C. Anderson, command chief master sergeant of the Air National Guard, at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base in Oklahoma City, May 8, 2017.
The visit allowed the director to not only get a look into the special operations mission of the 137 SOW but also seek out ideas to better serve the Airmen of the Guard.
“The most valuable assets of the Air National Guard are its people,” said Rice. “And the most valuable asset of those people is their time.”
As Rice and the other distinguished visitors made their way around base, 137th Airmen demonstrated the processes, equipment and spaces used in their day-to-day operations, embodying the director’s three focus areas: 21st century Guard Airmen, modernization of forces, and readiness across the 54 (states and territories).
“Keeping up with you all is a challenge and an inspiration,” said Rice to 137 SOW Airmen. “You are the tip of the spear in what is right in the Air Force.”
Sites included in the tour were: the Air National Guard Advanced Joint Terminal Attack Controller Training System and Tactical Operations Center of the 146th Air Support Operations Squadron; the newly installed Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility of the 285th Special Operations Intelligence Squadron; the L3 communications warehouse for the maintenance of the MC-12W; the 137th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron’s C-130 static trainer and simulated patient; and the 137th Fire Department’s Oshkosh Striker aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicle.
The director also accompanied an MC-12 aircrew during a training flight, getting the chance to witness the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities of the aircraft, while the ANG command chief teamed with forces on the ground to provide real-time battle tracking.
As the Air National Guard director, Rice is responsible for formulating, developing and coordinating all policies, plans, and programs affecting the more than 105,500 Guard members and civilians in 90 flying wings and 175 geographically separated units across 213 locations throughout the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands.
As Guardsmen, the director and command chief voiced their awareness and appreciation for the unique obstacles and hard work involved in succeeding as an Air National Guard member.
“People say ‘just a traditional Guardsmen’ like it’s nothing,” said Anderson. “What they don’t know is that the success of the Guard rests on their shoulders. They’re the workhorse.”
| Date Taken: | 05.08.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 05.08.2017 22:38 |
| Story ID: | 233101 |
| Location: | OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA, US |
| Web Views: | 806 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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