3rd AF commander discusses CAF, AMC surge

Published Feb. 19, 2010
By Senior Airman Kali L. Gradishar
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- Lt. Gen. Frank Gorenc, 3rd Air Force commander, visited Spangdahlem Air Base Feb. 18 to receive a visual update on recent changes and innovations in operations at the 52nd Fighter Wing.

General Gorenc offered insight into upcoming operational changes Sabers and members of the local community could see in the near future, one of those being possible reorganization due to the Combat Air Forces restructuring plan.

"The Combat Air Force restructuring is a plan that was set in motion a long time ago... and if Congress approves it, what we'll see is an approximate reduction in combat air force strength of about 250 legacy fighters," General Gorenc said. "The way that it's going to manifest itself here at Spangdahlem is that 18 F-16 (Fighting Falcon) aircraft will be departing Spangdahlem while 24 aircraft will be retained.

"I think what the restructuring does is better posture us to make sure we can make investments across the entire Air Force enterprise," he said.

With the possible changes that could come with the restructuring plan, General Gorenc views the change as something necessary to progress as an Air Force.

"It costs a lot of money to maintain all the aircraft and you get to a point where it becomes so expensive to maintain those older aircraft that it hinders any kind of modernization effort we might want to go to," the general explained. It also requires increased "manual work and labor to actually generate the sorties, and at this point and time we just think it's best to retire those 250 aircraft and move on."

Another issue General Gorenc touched on was the increase in operations at Spangdahlem's Air Mobility Command terminal as military commitments in Afghanistan have made it necessary to increase heavy lift aircraft operations here.

Additional air traffic is expected to last until August and includes up four additional AMC flights per night.

"When you call for a surge in activity in any area of responsibility there's a huge requirement for airlift; and, of course, Spangdahlem is a large portion of our throughput capability in Europe," General Gorenc said.

While some members of the local community may notice an increase in air traffic noise at night, "we're working very closely with the German government to make sure everyone understands what the requirements are," he said.

Regardless of the changes or increases in operations, General Gorenc recommended Airmen remember why they wear the uniform and what Airmen and sister-service counterparts are up against.

"What we all need to do is remind ourselves that right now the United States and our coalition partners are engaged with a very determined enemy. Our leadership has set forth a new strategy to try and win the conflict that we're in," General Gorenc said. "I think it's important for everybody to be reminded that, right now, we're in war."

3rd Air Force oversees the operational employment and deployment of U.S. Air Force assets throughout Europe, including aircraft, equipment and personnel stationed here.