AMC Commander Visits Pope Published Jan. 3, 2008 By 2nd Lt. Chris Hoyler 43rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Gen. Arthur Lichte toured Pope for his first time as Air Mobility Command Commander Dec. 18 and 19. Team Pope welcomed the general, along with his wife Christine, and Air Mobility Command Chief Master Sergeant Joseph Barron to meet Pope Airmen and see first-hand the work Pope accomplishes every day. "The base is top notch," General Lichte said. "I was very impressed with the quality that I saw with various projects. "But more remarkable are the young men and women that I had an opportunity to meet throughout my visit. Everywhere I went I talked with the men and women of the 43rd, as well as talking to many reservists along the way, who gave me an understanding of the amazing work they are doing here at Pope." The general was able to express his gratitude for the accomplishments of Pope Airmen first hand, presenting three Combat Action Medals and an Airman's Medal with valor. He also participated in Pope's only master sergeant promotion of the year under the Stripes for Exceptional Performers program. He also acknowledged the changes occurring due to the Base Realignment and Closure Act. One of those changes was finalized as he was preparing to depart, as Pope's A-10s took their final flight to complete their realignment to Moody AFB, Ga. "BRAC will come and go, but Pope will continue to excel at doing its mission everyday," General Lichte said. "How we do the mission at Pope, that won't change as we go through BRAC. The men and women of Pope will still be performing the mission. The Green Ramp will still be here and we'll continue to support the Army as we have for years now." Air Mobility Command has undergone just as much change over the past few years, stepping up to become the premier flying command in the Global War on Terror. "When you look at the statistics of what's going on in the theatre, you will find that AMC aircraft are doing more than anyone else," General Lichte said. "That's with the air refueling mission, the combat delivery, the aeromedical evacuation. Across the spectrum, Air Mobility Command is engaged every day." That engagement includes keeping nearly 12,000 troops and 5,000 vehicles off the road of Iraq each month through direct airlift. In a milestone accomplishment, AMC just completed its one millionth sortie since Sept. 11, 2001. "Obviously the ops tempo and activity level has increased immensely," General Lichte said. "It's touched every one of our weapons systems and all of our combat support has been involved every day." Since taking over as AMC Commander in September, General Lichte has set his priorities to mirror the Air Force's. "We need to tailor our priorities in Air Mobility Command to meet those requirements the Air Force has set up to fight and win the long war on terror," General Lichte said. He added that in addition to winning the war on terror, the command and the Air Force need to be prepared to win the next war, whenever that may be. His second priority is to take care of Airmen and their families, which he said Pope is doing very well. His final priority is the modernization and recapitalization of an aging fleet. "Whether it is aircraft, satellites or cyberspace, we have to recapitalize and modernize our force," General Lichte said. "I've noticed Pope is taking modernization and capitalization to the next level by focusing on its infrastructure and equipment," General Lichte said. "And that's exactly what I want all of Air Mobility Command to do, to look at those three priorities. If we're doing this, that or the other thing, they all have to be lined up with those top three priorities. If it's not, then we have to ask ourselves why we are doing it."