AFGSC assumes ICBM mission: Commander outlines mission, vision, values

Published Dec. 2, 2009
By Airman 1st Class Jennifer Viveiros
90th Missile Wing Public Affairs

F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wy -- The men and women of the Twentieth Air Force and the Mighty Ninety hosted the Air Force Global Strike Command commander during an historic Air Force milestone as the command assumed responsibilities for the intercontinental ballistic missile mission Tuesday.

While at F.E. Warren, Lt. Gen. Frank Klotz met with installation leadership and community leaders, and addressed about 600 Airmen at an installationwide commander's call at the base theater, introducing them to the AFGSC mission, vision, expectations and values.

The mission and vision statements were reinforced by distribution of printed wallet cards for Airmen who attended.

The new command gained three missile wings-one each at Warren; Malmstrom AFB, Mont.; and Minot AFB, N.D.--as the new higher headquarters for 20th AF, including all of the United States' 450 ICBMs.

The 576th Flight Test Squadron at Vandenberg AFB, Calif., as well as the 625th Strategic Operations Squadron at Offutt AFB, Neb., also now fall under AFGSC, officials said.

"This is an historic day as Air Force Global Strike Command assumes responsibility for all of the nation's ICBM force," General Klotz said. "It is the next milestone in what has been a methodical step-by-step process ... in an effort to bring all of the Air Forces strategic nuclear capabilities under one command again."

The activation of AFGSC demonstrates the Air Force's special commitment to this crucial mission, providing a singular strategic nuclear deterrence focus, said the general.

The general said he and the Air Force's most senior leaders are all proud of the men and women of 20th AF and its three missile wings. He stated Air Force leadership recognizes the challenges of the profession and shares his pride in the Airmen charged with the ICBM mission.

"Air Force senior leadership knows how difficult your job is, knows how demanding it is, how exacting it is. And we're proud of each and every individual in this command," said the general.

The command's top leader provided a brief history of how and why the establishment of this command is so important.

"We still have a vitally important and enduring mission," said General Klotz. "President Obama said [in a speech in Prague] that as long as there are nuclear weapons in the world, we will maintain a safe, secure and effective arsenal to deter attacks against the United States and to guarantee that same defense to our allies."

Those words are reflected in the AFGSC mission statement, said the general. "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."

According to General Klotz, AFGSC brings focus to the nuclear enterprise by streamlining all ICBM forces and nuclear-capable bombers under one command, by "providing a safe, secure and effective arsenal of nuclear deterrence."

Deterrence for the United States is one of the elements of the AFGSC mission, he added. The other, he said is "assurance for our allies."

The general explained that in order to accomplish this mission, Airmen must understand the command's vision. This vision involves creating an elite, highly-disciplined, model command.

According to General Klotz, success for the command depends on Airmen upholding the traits that the command values. These include accepting individual responsibility for mission success; critical self-assessment; uncompromising adherence to standards; superior technical weapons system expertise; pride in the nuclear heritage; respect for the worth and dignity of every Airman; and safety in all things large and small.

The transition to the new command will be smooth, the general said. One thing he said he will ask is for Airmen to continue to adhere to the standard of excellence that the Air Force and the nation expect.

The general also stressed the need for each Airman to be an expert in his or her own job and perform at the highest level. As such, he challenged Airmen to achieve new levels of excellence and asked every AFGSC Airman to be "the greatest in the world, [at] the job you are in right now "

Being great "is within your reach and within your grasp," he said. "Constantly push to achieve new levels of excellence."

General Klotz said it is going to take everyone, working together every day, to make the command successful, but he is sure the command's Airmen are up to the challenge.

"You are an elite team and a proud team, and I wish you good luck," he said

Lt. Gen. Klotz speaks to AFGSC