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4th Air Force commander visits Dover Air Force Base

  • Published
  • By Capt. Marnee A.C. Losurdo
  • 512th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  The 4th Air Force Commander Brig. Gen. Mark. A. Kyle visited the 512th Airlift Wing here Feb. 9-10.

The general, who provides leadership, management and oversight to 15 wings and three groups, visited Dover as part of his commitment to visit all newly assigned 4th AF units to ensure Airmen have the necessary equipment, training and facilities needed to accomplish the mission.

"When I get out into organizations like yours, I realize most of us are not in this business for the money or the stripes; I see people who are serving because they are patriots," said the general. "And, that's why I'm here, to find out what you need. I'll fight for you and get you what you need, not what you want; because, there is a difference. I'm proud to do this, because you are important to me."

In October, the 512th AW moved from 22nd Air Force to 4th AF in an Air Force Reserve Command effort to provide operational capabilities and strategic depth across the full spectrum of military operations. Other units that were also realigned to 4th AF include the 315th AW, Joint Base Charleston, S.C.; 439th AW, Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass.; and 514th Air Mobility Wing, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J. Fourth Air Force has command supervision of the Reserve's long-range airlift and air-refueling units located throughout the continental United States, Hawaii and Guam. Fourth AF, the largest numbered AF, also ensures assigned units and personnel are properly organized, trained, equipped and ready to support national security requirements across a full spectrum of operations from war to contingency situations.

During the general's visit, he received a tour of the base, which included several stops to view AFRC-funded construction projects. He also flew on the C-5M and met with personnel from the 512th Operations Group. That afternoon, he met with the wing's Air Reserve Technicians during a commander's call at the base theater. ARTs, which are full-time, federal civil service employees serving in a selected position within the wing, asked questions about issues reservists' face, such as funding issues with long-term orders, ancillary training and fitness program requirements.

Senior Master Sgt. Randall Anderson, 512th Education and Training chief, and Chief Master Sgt. William Eason, 512th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron superintendent, were two of more than 200 ARTs who attended the commander's call.

"The general quickly put everyone at ease to ask anything; nothing was off limits," said Anderson. "I enjoyed meeting him and appreciate him providing us the opportunity to ask him questions and being so open with us."

Eason had a similar opinion.

"He was candid, very open to any and all subjects and appeared to be genuinely concerned about our issues," he said.

The general also visited the 46th Aerial Port Squadron and the 512th Maintenance Group areas to include the isochronal inspection hangar.

Prior to his current assignment, the general served as the deployed director of Mobility Forces, U.S. Air Forces Central, Southwest Asia and was the AFRC inspector general. He is a command pilot with more than 4,000 hours in a variety of aircraft. His commands include an operations group, a rescue wing, an air refueling wing and a special operations wing.