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Remembering past presidents, focusing on the future

  • Published
  • By Col. Al Hunt
  • 375th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  This Monday, our nation will celebrate the birthdays of two of its most well-known and respected presidents - George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Both presidents served our country during a time of war, and both statesmen led our country through significant cultural and political change.

Over a century later, America is fighting a different kind of war. The Global War on Terrorism, unlike the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, isn't against an easily recognizable rival. It's not America versus the British or the North versus the South. Instead, it's freedom and security versus oppression and terrorism.

Gone are the days of battle with muskets, sabers, and cannons. Today, America's military goes to combat with high-tech weapon systems across the spectrum of air, land, and sea.

Whereas the Revolutionary and Civil Wars were two-dimensional ground wars, the GWOT added a three-dimensional aspect relying on air power, particularly air mobility, to get fighters and bombers to their respective targets as well as personnel and supplies to their end destinations.

Within the Air Force, winning the GWOT is our number one priority. Recapitalization and modernization of the Air Force's inventory along with the development of today's Airmen are essential to meeting this goal.

Operating and maintaining aging aircraft not only exceeds the Air Force budget but also limits its ability to provide global vigilance, reach, and power. In order to meet the demands and challenges of the GWOT and future challenges, the Air Force must modernize its inventory by rebalancing the Total Force team and streamlining processes.

In addition, mission success is dependent on the development of capable, well-developed, combat-ready Airmen. We must be trained to think at the levels of depth and breadth commensurate with their experience and given opportunities to lead. Our families are equally important and must get the best health care, housing, child care, and morale/welfare services available.

The American landscape has changed considerably since the days of Presidents Washington and Lincoln. The battlefields are no longer clearly defined and the enemy is not easily identifiable. Fortunately, today's weapons go beyond the "aim and pull" variety, transcending air, space, and cyberspace while leveraging technology, ingenuity, and manpower.

While the GWOT is a different kind of war, the ideals for which it and others were fought are the same today. President Washington fought for independence; President Lincoln fought for equality. Today, we fight with coalition forces to defend and protect our countries' independence and equality while supporting nations of people who need our help to fight oppression and terrorism in their respective nations.

Thanks to all JTF Scott personnel for serving and protecting our country along with the principles it was founded upon 232 years ago. It is through dedicated service to our great nation that we are allowed to live free and promote democracy around the world. AIRPOWER, HOOAH, OOHRAH, and BZ to all!