9th AF commander visits Moody

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jarrod Grammel
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  The new 9th Air Force commander, Maj. Gen. Lawrence Wells, visited Moody Nov. 28 to Dec. 1 during his first base visit since assuming command in October.

He met with base leaders and Airmen, viewed demonstrations, awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross with Valor and four Bronze Star Medals, and witnessed the mission Team Moody performs .He was accompanied by Command Chief Master Sgt. Robert Brooks, 9th AF command chief.

"We are very impressed with Moody." said Wells. "(Chief) Brooks had talked to me about coming here and I honestly wasn't sure if everything he said about Moody could be true. But after this visit, it is even better than that. It is amazing."

Moody is home to the 23rd Wing and the 93d Air Group Operations Wing, both of which have a unique mission and capabilities.

"Moody is interesting in the fact that it impacts other services in a way that a lot of other bases don't have the opportunity to do," said Brooks. "The 93dAGOW has the battlefield Airmen who are integrated with the U.S. Army. On the 23rd WG side you have the rescue units who are deeply integrated with all the services. So they not only get along well together, they are some of the most significant wings in the Air Force relative to integrating with other services."

One mission unique to the 23rd WG is personnel recovery. All Air Force rescue units in the continental U.S. fall under its command.

"Personnel recovery is the most important thing our Air Force does because we make a commitment to all of our Airmen that we won't leave anyone behind," said Wells. "If something happens, somebody will go in to save their lives and bring them back home.

"It's a commitment we make to soldiers, sailors, Airmen and Marines, but we also make it to the families," he added. "The results happen downrange but the impact is at home. It is a commitment your wing and only your wing has. It is a historical commitment that we have always kept with our Airmen."

During the visit, Wells also brought good news as he met with dining facility personnel to announce they won the 2011 John L. Hennessy Award, an award that recognizes the best dining facility, for Air Combat Command.

"I look at the facilities here and I'm impressed at the fact that you can take a dining facility that was built in 1955 and win the Hennessy Award for ACC, almost 65 years later," said Wells. "It's amazing what they have done to use the facilities they have here."

Throughout the visit, Wells met with many committed Airmen from units across base.

"The second thing that has impressed me the most is the people," said Wells. "Every young Airman I have talked to wants to go downrange, wants to be involved in the mission and contribute. They say that because they are convinced they are the person who can do the mission the best. There is a pride and feeling of accomplishment here.

"I am impressed to see all the excitement and the dedication that is here," he added. "You can feel it when you come on base; it's not from a PowerPoint or a commander talking--it's from young Airmen talking to us and telling us what they do."

The general was impressed by the base and the caliber of Airmen and hopes to see the same dedication and commitment from other 9th AF bases he visits.

"I'm very honored to be here and I'm glad it was the first base we visited," said Wells. "Unfortunately it set a high standard because now we have to compare everyone to Moody and when you start with the best, you hope to see everyone at the same level."