Ninth Air Force commander and command chief visit Pope Airmen

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Simmons, a tactical air control party specialist assigned to the 14th Air Support Operations Squadron, briefs Maj. Gen. Mark Kelly, 9th Air Force commander, and Command Chief Master Sgt. Frank Batten III, 9th Air Force command chief, about TACP tactical equipment during Kelly’s visit with battlefield Airmen assigned to the 18th Air Support Operations Group, Pope Army Airfield, North Carolina, Sept. 14, 2015. (U.S. Air Force photo/Marvin Krause)

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Ninth Air Force commander and command chief visit Pope Airmen

U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Mark Kelly, 9th Air Force commander, greets Airman 1st Class Zachary McCarthy, an RF transmissions technician assigned to the 682nd Air Support Operations Squadron, during Kelly’s visit with 18th Air Support Operations Group battlefield Airmen at Pope Army Airfield, North Carolina, Sept. 14, 2015. (U.S. Air Force photo/Marvin Krause)

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Ninth Air Force commander and command chief visit Pope Airmen

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Justina Gonzalez, an intelligence specialist assigned to the 682nd Air Support Operations Squadron, provides a mission briefing to Maj. Gen. Mark Kelly, 9th Air Force commander, and Command Chief Master Sgt. Frank Batten III, 9th Air Force command chief, on air support operations center operations and how she manages the battlefield threat picture to ensure the safety of blue forces on the ground. Kelly and Batten visited 18th Air Support Operations Group battlefield Airmen at Pope Army Airfield, North Carolina, Sept. 14, 2015. (U.S. Air Force photo/Marvin Krause)

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Ninth Air Force commander and command chief visit Pope Airmen

U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Mark Kelly, 9th Air Force commander, receives a mission briefing from Senior Airman Jonathon Moore, a power production specialist assigned to the 682nd Air Support Operations Squadron, on how he provides power production for an air support operations center. Kelly visited 18th Air Support Operations Group battlefield Airmen at Pope Army Airfield, North Carolina, Sept. 14, 2015. Command Chief Master Sgt. Frank Batten III, 9th Air Force command chief, Staff Sgt. Shaun Simmons and Capt. Abby Klier, 682nd Air Support Operations Squadron, look on. (U.S. Air Force photo/Marvin Krause)

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Ninth Air Force commander and command chief visit Pope Airmen

U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Mark Kelly, 9th Air Force commander, presents his commander’s coin to Staff Sgt. Brian Zwiers, a battlefield weather forecaster assigned to the 18th Weather Squadron, recognizing his outstanding duty performance. Kelly visited 18th Air Support Operations Group battlefield Airmen at Pope Army Airfield, North Carolina, Sept. 14, 2015. (U.S. Air Force photo/Marvin Krause)

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Ninth Air Force commander and command chief visit Pope Airmen

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. James Demars II, a tactical air control party specialist assigned to the 14th Air Support Operations Squadron, briefs Maj. Gen. Mark Kelly, 9th Air Force commander, about tactical communications equipment mounted in a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle. Kelly visited 18th Air Support Operations Group battlefield Airmen at Pope Army Airfield, North Carolina, Sept. 14, 2015. (U.S. Air Force photo/Marvin Krause)

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Ninth Air Force commander and command chief visit Pope Airmen

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jason Sandoval, a tactical air control party specialist assigned to the 14th Air Support Operations Squadron, briefs Maj. Gen. Mark Kelly, 9th Air Force commander, about tactical air control party equipment worn by Airman 1st Class Paul Rebultan, a tactical air control party specialist also assigned to the 14th ASOS. Kelly visited 18th Air Support Operations Group battlefield Airmen at Pope Army Airfield, North Carolina, Sept. 14, 2015. (U.S. Air Force photo/Marvin Krause)

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Ninth Air Force commander and command chief visit Pope Airmen

U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Mark Kelly, 9th Air Force commander, presents his commander’s coin to Staff Sgt. Deron Arnold, a procedural controller assigned to the 682nd Air Support Operations Squadron, recognizing his outstanding duty performance. Kelly visited 18th Air Support Operations Group battlefield Airmen at Pope Army Airfield, North Carolina, Sept. 14, 2015. (U.S. Air Force photo/Marvin Krause)

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Ninth Air Force commander and command chief visit Pope Airmen

U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Mark Kelly, 9th Air Force commander, thanks battlefield Airmen assigned to the 18th Air Support Operations Group, Pope Army Airfield, North Carolina, for their service to the nation and the U.S. Air Force during his visit Sept. 14, 2015. (U.S. Air Force photo/Marvin Krause)

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Ninth Air Force commander and command chief visit Pope Airmen

Published Sept. 28, 2015
By Marvin Krause
43rd Airlift Group

POPE ARMY AIRFIELD, N.C. -- U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Mark Kelly, 9th Air Force commander and command chief, Chief Master Sgt. Frank Batten III, met with battlefield Airmen assigned to the 18th Air Support Operations Group during a visit here Sept. 14.

Kelly's and Batten's visit included mission briefings and equipment demonstrations by 18th ASOG units including the 682nd Air Support Operations Squadron, 14th Air Support Operations Squadron and 18th Weather Squadron.

Major General Kelly also presented his commander's coin to several top performing Airmen, recognizing them for their outstanding service.

Kelly also thanked the group's Airmen for their outstanding service to the nation and the Air Force.