Selva challenges innovation at MacDill

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Melanie Bulow-Kelly
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Gen. Paul J. Selva, Air Mobility Command commander, visited MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., to get a first-hand Airman perspective and to find out what is important to them during a two-day tour Sept. 26-27, 2013.

Selva visited twice before, however, this was his first opportunity he had to interact with Airmen and experience the mission at MacDill.

During his visit he took a boat ride along MacDill's coastline by 6th Security Forces Squadron marine patrol, a Hillsborough county sheriff's department helicopter ride, a boom simulator demonstration, a tour of the MacDill Resilience Center, a walk-thru of several squadrons, and an "all-call."

On Selva's agenda was spreading a message that detailed leadership's diligence to resolve budget issues, training Airmen, and top-level perspective of the future of the Force.

His top priority as commander is ensuring Airmen are resourced, equipped and trained to do the mission.

"We are going to be faced with some pretty tough challenges, but what we would ask you to do is throw all the resources you have at helping us solve those problems. I have already seen that alive and well right here at MacDill," said Selva.

"You have more Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st century trained Airmen than any other base in our command. Not only are you trained, but you're using the skill...That's innovation, it's a discipline process and you're very good at it."

Selva ended his address by reiterating the need to work together, take care of our fellow Airmen and the need to have a positive outlook for the future.

"I expect that you will care about each other as human beings and you will take care of each other and respect each other as professional Airman," said Selva. "That is not an environment that just naturally grows from an organization, it's the product of good leadership, and it's a product of people in this room insisting on a relatively higher standard."

"Never let opportunities pass you by. I would like you to think about what your place is in this Air Force, from the youngest airman to the colonel lined up in the front. Our Air Force can only do what it does because of you," concluded Selva. "Your place in our institution is a building block to freedom; because of each of you we are the best Air Force on the planet."

As commander of AMC, Selva leads 135,000 air mobility personnel, whose mission is to deliver unsurpassable, global air mobility support to joint partners, allied nations and fellow Americans in need by providing aerial refueling, airlift, special air mission and aero medical evacuation.