Secretary Gates cites Air Force's value in war on terrorism

  • Published
  • By Jim Garamone
  • American Forces Press Service
LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. --  America's war on terrorism would grind to a halt without the contributions of the Air Force, said the Defense secretary June 9 at Langley Air Force Base.

"Every day, amazing Airmen are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan," Secretary Robert M. Gates said.

"Beyond that, you support all the services worldwide," he said.

The secretary praised Airmen for their mostly unsung combat role and support of deployed servicemembers. For example, in 2007 the Air Force flew about 1,300 air strikes in Iraq, a three-fold increase from 2006 that represented 90 percent of all coalition air strikes.

The number of MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle sorties has more than doubled in the past year, and ground commanders continue to ask for more, he said.

"The timely, precise and persistent surveillance and close-air support provided by the Air Force over the battlefield has saved countless American lives, the lives of innocent civilians, and left terrorists and insurgents little room to operate," Secretary Gates said.

Airmen also are on the ground in the combat theater. More than 6,000 are performing in place of Soldiers or Marines on the ground in Iraq, covering everything from detainee security to explosive ordnance disposal to convoy security. And Air Force trainers are working to build the Iraqi and Afghan air forces.

Air Force officers and enlisted Airmen are working on provincial reconstruction teams in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and Air Force members make up large parts of the personnel assigned to Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa and the Joint Special Operations Task Force in Zamboanga, Philippines.

"Little of that is widely known or appreciated," Secretary Gates said. "But I can assure you that I value everything you are doing in support of our nation. And every Soldier and Marine on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan is profoundly grateful you are overhead watching out for them."

The secretary said while most Americans are aware of the stresses and strains on Soldiers and Marines, Airmen, too, are affected.

"We know this, and are working to ease the burden," he said. "I intend immediately to stop further reductions in Air Force personnel."

The Air Force has steadily reduced in size since the Gulf War, and current reductions were slated to result in an end-strength of 328,600 Airmen by October 2009.