Air Force Reserve Commander visits Rescue Airmen

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Leslie Forshaw
  • 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  In Col. Jeffrey L. Macrander's first month of leadership as the 920th Rescue Wing's Commander, he's had two groups of Airmen deploy to war and one group return home, and now, a visit from Lt. Gen. Charles E. Stenner, Jr., Air Force Reserve Commander.

General Stenner is making his way down the Eastern Seaboard to visit different Air Force Reserve units and meet the Reserve Airmen.

Upon arriving here today, General Stenner made a b-line to Colonel Macrander's office to meet with group commanders and talk about the high tempo of deployments, family support of the deployed Airmen, and the future of the Air Force Reserve.

Afterwards, about 100 Airmen were gathered in the base theater for a town hall meeting where the general addressed their concerns.

"We can focus on what we can do today to make tomorrow better and not break ourselves in the process," said Stenner.

With Rescue Airmen coming and going in support of the ongoing war - family support was a topic that the general hit upon during his speech.

"You (920th RQW Reservists) do great work and my hat is off to you," said Stenner. "The work you do is noticed and greatly appreciated."

By focusing on the Reservist, their family and their civilian job, we can balance the three-legged stool of the traditional reservist, said the general. If one of those components is not functioning correctly, the stool will fall.

"We need to keep fighting the fight and take care of each other," said Stenner.

Among the questions the Airmen had for him, was about the future of the incoming Traditional Reservists and their training.

The goal for the Air Force Reserve is to train younger Airmen to be leaders, said the general.

With four hours as his timeline, the message was short, but to the point.

"We have solid and enduring mission and the future of the Air Force is bright," said Stenner.

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