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Ground-combat wing commander returns to Pope

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Chris Hoyler
  • 43rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Brig. Gen. Michael Longoria, commander of the Air Force's first air ground operations wing and former Pope squadron and group commander, visited March 27 to discuss his wing with members of the local Air Force Association chapter. 

General Longoria is the commander of the 93rd Air Ground Operations Wing, Moody Air Force Base, Ga. The wing consolidated the tactical air-control party and battlefield weather of Pope's 18th Air Support Operations Group and the 3rd ASOG at Fort Hood, Tex. with the specialized force protection capabilities of the 820th Security Forces Group at Moody. 

The general has plenty of experience with the 18th ASOG, as he served as the group's commander from July 2001 to January 2003. He also commanded Pope's 21st Special Tactics Squadron from June 1996 to June 1997 and the former 23rd Combat Control Squadron from June 1995 to June 1996. 

"I love Pope," the general said. "It's like coming back home. I've probably spent about half of my career here between assignments and TDY." 

The 93rd AGOW stood up January 25 to provide Airmen specializing in ground-combat missions with a single command and control structure. 

General Longoria discussed ground-combat Airmen that are embedded with the Army, in particular brigade air liaison officers. 

"50 percent of these BALOs are senior airmen," the general said. "These are the Airmen that represent the entire Air Force to many Army brigades." 

"They are thousand-pound gorillas that do a great job, but we have to do well by them, and establishing the oversight with the wing will do that." 

The general praised the 18th ASOG and said their presence up and down the east coast extends to many Army posts. 

He specifically mentioned the 20th Air Support Operations Squadron at Fort Drum, N.Y., an Air Force unit he visited recently. 

The Airmen there were not interested in talking about improving quality of life or recreation facilities. Rather, they wanted to know when they would get more controls to make their job easier. 

"You couldn't ask for a better Airman than that," the general said. "They want to be trained, up to date, able to do the best job possible." 

He asked the Airmen how many combat deployments they have had, and he was not able to stop counting until reaching seven or eight. 

"They know what they are there for, and they keep signing back up for deployment after deployment," the general said. 

"Most have been deployed for three or four years, seven or eight times." 

For those at Pope, the general said to take 30 to 45 minutes out of a day to visit the 18th ASOG Heritage Hall. 

"Just go to take a look at the young Airmen that have been honored with Distinguish Flying Crosses and other decorations," General Longoria said. 

The visit was part of the Harley Pope Chapter 386 of the Air Force Association's quarterly meeting; the general was introduced by (Ret.) Brig. Gen Paul Dordal, former 43rd Airlift Wing Commander. General Longoria was a squadron commander when General Dordal was wing commander. 

"If there is a career to emulate, it's General Longoria's," General Dordal said. 

General Longoria said he will make it back to Pope as much as he can; after all, it is "home." 

"With everyone I know at Pope, whether it was 43rd, or the 23rd before the left, or JSOC, it was always a great mentality of one family. It has always been a great team effort, and that's because everyone knows we put the air in airborne."