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18th Air Force general visits Pope

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Chris Hoyler
  • 43rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Brig. Gen. Charles Reed, Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, 18th Air Force, visited here Monday and Tuesday to tour the base and observe the ongoing changes due to the Base Realignment and Closure Act.

As a member of the Air Force Reserve, General Reed serves as reserve advisor to Maj. Gen. James Hawkins, 18th AF Commander. This visit was his first chance to see how the 43rd Airlift Wing and the 440th Airlift Wing have transitioned since the 440th AW arrived from Milwaukee in 2007.

"People have worked very hard to maintain and upgrade facilities and equipment here," General Reed said.

"I'm surprised that, despite BRAC, there are still so many positive things going on here, and that goes beyond what the 43rd (AW) is doing."

General Reed spent Tuesday morning touring the base and hearing from some of the group and squadron commanders about how BRAC has changed the way each of them operates.

As a sign of the partnership between the 43rd AW and the 440th AW, the maintenance group commanders from both wings, Col. Bryan Bearden and Col. Willie Cooper respectively, briefed General Reed on their groups.

The general talked to Colonels Bearden and Cooper in a hangar while dual inspections were occurring on C-130s from both the 43rd AW and 440th AW.

"With the shrinking budget, active duty and (Air Force) Reserve associations like the one here are the way to go," General Reed said.

The general said associations are going to be crucial to the future of the Air Force, and that every situation is unique.

Pope is a perfect example of this, General Reed added. Associations between the Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve and active duty wings are more common than the one Pope is starting to build, as the Army plays an important role in the transitions.

"It is not one size fits all, which is why I wanted to see how things are here," General Reed said.

"We need to look at the puzzle and pay attention to each little detail."