A letter to 18th Air Force Airmen

  • Published
  • By Lt. Gen. Darren W. McDew
  • Commander, 18th Air Force
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  To the Airmen of our great global mobility enterprise: thank you! Your hard work and dedication continues to be the cornerstone of success in our critical, global mission. You continue to face and overcome enormous challenges in the service of our Nation and I expect no less of you during this time of budget uncertainty.

Bold, Innovative Airmen: Our Key to Success in a Time of Uncertainty Recently, the Secretary of Defense directed the Air Force to plan for long-term budgetary uncertainty, including a potential sequestration in March, and many of you have already begun to see the effects of this belt-tightening.

I won't sugarcoat it: if we do not have resolution by March, sequestration will certainly impact Air Force readiness, which will immediately affect our flying operations. But let me be clear: our mission is not going to go away. Whether delivering aid to victims of a natural disaster, or refueling fighters, or bringing wounded warriors to care, we will be there supporting operations around the world. In fact, our pace will likely increase as we bring back personnel and cargo from Afghanistan.

In the coming months, we will have to make some hard choices and learn to operate with fewer resources, but our Air Force will endure this uncertainty. As the Chief of Staff of the Air Force has said, innovation is an essential facet of who we are as Airmen. As such, I am asking you to share your ideas on how we can operate more efficiently while remaining able to effectively meet tomorrow's challenges and ensure the security of our Nation.

I appreciate your help. America is counting on us and as long as you remain committed to the mission and dedicated to selfless service, I am confident we will never let her down. As retired Tuskegee Airmen Lt. Col. William H. Holloman III once eloquently put it, "America's not perfect, but I'll hold her hand until she gets well." Whatever tomorrow brings, we too will hold America's hand. I am proud of each and every one of you. Keep up the good work.

Expedite!