AFGSC commander visits wing, welcomes Airmen to MAJCOM

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Jason Barebo
  • 509th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. --  Lt. Gen. Frank Klotz, Air Force Global Strike Command commander, visited the 509th Bomb Wing Feb. 1-3, marking the transition of the wing from Air Combat Command to AFGSC.

During his stay here, General Klotz also spoke with wing and civilian leaders, visited facilities and flew a B-2 Spirit.

"It is my distinct honor to formally welcome you as members of the Air Force's newest major command, Air Force Global Strike Command," General Klotz said. "This is the next milestone in what has been a methodical, step-by-step approach to implementing the Air Force's 'Nuclear Roadmap,' approved by the Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff."

Officially stood up Aug. 7, 2009, the command provides combat ready forces to conduct strategic nuclear deterrence and global strike operations in support of combatant commanders and oversee all Air Force nuclear-capable forces.

"Members of AFGSC now have a single command focused solely on their mission," General Klotz said.

"We have such great Airmen and their families joining this new team," General Klotz said.

Upon arriving at Whiteman, General Klotz held a commander's call at the Mission's End to give Airmen of the 509th BW a better understanding of the mission, his vision for the command and some of the command's values.

"We take our mission statement directly from the marching orders provided to us by the commander-in-chief," General Klotz said. "Our mission is to develop and provide combat-ready forces for nuclear deterrence and global strike operations - safe, secure, credible - to support the President of the United States and combatant commanders."

The AFGSC mission statement contains two elements, General Klotz said. The first element is deterrence of attack against the U.S. The second element is assurance to allies that the U.S. has the strength and the will to come to their assistance when needed.

"This is something we do every day," the general said. "Every Airman, active duty, Guard, Reserve and government civilian at Whiteman at this very moment are deterring attacks against the U.S."

The vision of AFGSC echoes the Airman's Creed, General Klotz said: American Airmen with special trust and responsibility for the most powerful weapons in our Nation's arsenal ... an elite, highly-disciplined team ... building a model command.

"That's you - an elite, highly-disciplined team," General Klotz said of Whiteman Airmen.

"Our priority is to continue to strengthen the Air Force nuclear enterprise," General Klotz said. "We will continue to improve the way we do business to meet both today's challenges, as well as those of tomorrow."