18th Air Force commander visits JB MDL

Published April 1, 2014
By Staff Sgt. Scott Saldukas
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Air Force Lt. Gen. Darren McDew, 18th Air Force commander, visited Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., to see firsthand how service members accomplish the mission March 26 and 27, 2014.

During the two-day visit, McDew had the opportunity to tour the joint base, attend an airman leadership school final retreat, host an 18th Air Force all-call and visit with Airmen and Sailors from the 305th Air Mobility Wing, the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center and the 621st Contingency Response Wing and AMC's Test and Evaluation Squadron.

Although McDew faced a jam-packed itinerary, this visit offered him the chance to tour the recently upgraded Base Operations facility as well as the new 2nd Air Refueling Squadron operations center. In addition to viewing the recent improvements to JB MDL infrastructure, he took time to mentor commanders and superintendents from the 305th AMW during a mentorship session at the Military and Family Support Center.

"I am always amazed when I am able to get out amongst those who get the job done," McDew said. "What I see when I meet Airmen just reinforces what I tell them all the time. I tell Airmen 'thank you for what you do,' because there are countless times every single day that we, as senior leaders, cannot pat them on the back or shake their hand and say 'thank you' when they have earned our appreciation."

Even though the general is not always able to acknowledge the hard work of every Airman, during his visit here he made the most of his time by making sure to stop and meet with star performers and thank them for their dedication to the mission during the 305th AMW Annual Award Winners' Luncheon.

"I trust our Airmen more than they may even trust themselves," he said. "I believe in them more than they may even believe in themselves. I am convinced to my core that Airmen have the answer. Even in times of turbulence, Airmen have the answer."

While the entire Department of Defense is facing times of turbulence dealing with the fiscal environment, McDew had a message for Airmen.

"A major topic now is force shaping," McDew said. "It is going to have an impact everywhere, on the whole Air Force and even ripple through the force to the 305th AMW and JB MDL. What I have been telling Airmen to do is take a deep breath ... and relax. This is not the first time our military has had to force shape and it won't be the last. The reason I say take a deep breath is because so many things are still being determined and we shouldn't get too excited about the outcome just yet."

He explained how senior leaders are trying to figure what the next step is, but as a force, we have a duty.

"We need to reassure our families that today, tomorrow and forever we will always be the strongest Air Force in the world," he said. "Our Air Force will take care of us. As we navigate through this turbulence we have to make sure we do it together. We have to reassure each other the mission is important, we are still important and we will be taken care of. I trust our leaders are making the best decisions for every single Airman, the DOD and our nation as a whole."