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12th AF/CC visits Dyess, takes his first flight in a B-1

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Carolyn Viss
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The 12th Air Force and Air Forces Southern commander visited Dyess Aug. 27 to see the progress of Dyess Airmen and speak to current issues the B-1 community faces. 

Lieutenant Gen. Norman Seip, stationed out of Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., had the opportunity to fly in the B-1 Lancer for the first time during his visit. 

"I've spent a lot of time bragging about the B-1," General Seip said. "Never having flown it, it was the perfect opportunity for me to experience this aircraft and see first-hand the professionalism of the crew and the role they play in the overall mission. I also got a better understanding of the challenges of the mission, not only for the crew but also for the Air Force." 

He spoke particularly to the Air and Space Expeditionary Force cycle the B-1 community is currently under, stating that he sees the AEF cycle staying at 120 days. 

"I know that right now certain career fields are on 179-day cycles, but I can tell you that the chief of staff of the Air Force is committed to bringing those career fields back under the fold of the current AEF cycle," he said. 

Additionally, he remarked on the Air Force Smart Operations 21 program Dyess has implemented. The virtual battlestaff concept and physical health assessment programs here have taken readiness and the daily operations tempo to a higher level. 

"Dyess continues to lead the way and set ground-breaking initiatives, and I plan to take those ideas back up to the 12th Air Force," he said. 

Colonel Timothy Ray, the 7th Bomb Wing commander, has done a great job taking Dyess' strategic plan and tying those objectives to specific AFSO-21 areas, General Seip said. 

"I wish everyone would adapt Colonel Ray's process for taking the strategic plan and latching it to a specific area of need, increasing our combat capabilities through AFSO-21," he said. 

Part of aligning the plan with the need is demonstrated by the upcoming runway closure and temporary relocation of B-1s to Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., General Seip said. 

"It's a well laid out plan," he said. "We already have B-1 infrastructure in place at Ellsworth, so relocating will be easier in terms of gear and training, and will allow us to make the transition easier than it might be at another base." 

Similarly, the overall aircraft supply situation has gotten the attention of many "stars," General Seip said, referring to the general officers in command levels even higher than Air Combat Command. 

"We've had some long-neglected supply issues that are now getting the right emphasis from the senior leadership," he said. "The proof in the pudding will be later in the year when actual parts we've been promised show up in our shops. The ultimate proof will be the decrease in can rates and non-commission rates due to supply." 

Any time he comes to Dyess, he said it's re-emphasized in his mind that the team and community, including the civilian staff, do great work. 

"We've got great combat power out there with the B-1," General Seip said. "But the engine that sustains that combat power is each and every Airman - whether they're in a back shop, office, or next to an aircraft, they're contributing to the mission and there's nothing they can do better."