AFRC Commander visits Alamo Wing

  • Published
  • By Capt. Cris Medina
  • 433 AW/PA
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND --  
Lt. Gen. James "JJ" Jackson, the Chief of Air Force Reserve and Commander of Air Force Reserve Command, visited the 433rd Airlift Wing here, April 11.
The General visited the Alamo Wing as part of his commitment to visit AF units and ensure that Reservists have the necessary equipment, training and facilities needed to accomplish the mission.

Jackson's day at the Alamo Wing began with hosting a breakfast with 433rd AW First Sergeants and Chiefs' Group. The Breakfast with the general was set in a town-hall type of atmosphere, left a positive impression with Chief Master Sgt. Steven J. Badowski, chief of education and training with the 433rd Force Support Squadron.

"I think it's important that leadership connects with the troops and having the general come in to spend time with us and allowing us to get the message from him is very personable. It goes a long way with our troops that they're getting the message from him in person".

In addition, he visited facilities within the wing and met with Airmen as they went about their day during the Unit Training Assembly. A highpoint of the visit  was an all-call at the Inter-American Air Forces Academy Auditorium, where he got a chance to have a face to face meeting with a large group of Alamo Wing Airmen.

During assembly Jackson, effortlessly touched on a wide range of topics, from career development and career progression, Tricare and suicide prevention, but most importantly, communication with one another.

"The bottom line is to just send your folks something to start a conversation with. Whether your workspace is four or 40 spend some time, whether it's five minutes, get out in front of them and talk to them, engage them," Jackson said.

The bookend of Jackson's visited ended with lunch with some of the enlisted Airmen at the Live Oak Dining Facility, where Jackson talked about issues concerning the enlisted force.

"You didn't know the Airmen sitting at your table, before today.  I like that you all are sitting together and talking to one another," Jackson said. "There have been too many suicides this year, I've had two this year, I want you to watch out for each other and talk to each other," he said.

He took the opportunity to walk around each table and asked some of the Airmen about their plans for their Air Force careers.

"One of you wants to get a commission through ROTC. Some of you have plans to get promoted in the next five years.  It is a good idea to have a plan," he said.

Tech. Sgt. Carlos Trevino, a photojournalist with 433rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs, was invited to the luncheon. "The message I got from General Jackson was that we need to watch over each other.  I did notice that the Airmen at the luncheon were all sharing and talking. They weren't on their phones, which was a surprise to me; they were genuinely interested in what the General had to say."

Major Christopher Ryan, Aide-de-Camp to General Jackson, summed up the purpose of the General's visit by saying.

"General Jackson wanted to get out in the 433rd Wing and talk to commanders about their priorities, and talk about the priorities he's laying out as Chief of the Air Force Reserve and Air Force Reserve Commander. Most importantly, he wanted to get out and connect with the men and women of the Alamo Wing, said Ryan.

Jackson's position in the Air Force Reserve is a dual-hatted position; He is the Chief of Air Force Reserve, Headquarters U.S. Air Force in Washington, D.C.  In addition to Chief, he is also the Commander of the Air Force Reserve Command at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia.

As Chief of Air Force Reserve, he serves as principal adviser on reserve matters to the Secretary of the Air Force and the Air Force Chief of Staff.  In his other capacity, as Commander of Air Force Reserve Command, he has full responsibility for the supervision of all U.S. Air Force Reserve units around the world.