COMPACAF holds Airman's Call at Yokota Published Oct. 26, 2010 By Airman 1st Class Lynsie Nichols 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Pacific Air Forces Commander General Gary North held an Airman's Call during his visit here Oct. 25 to discuss topics on the minds of Yokota Airmen. Addressing a wide range of issues, from physical fitness standards to suicide prevention, the general provided the more than 650 Airmen in attendance his strategic vision of the way ahead for PACAF. "Think about what you do every day. You form the basis for a relationship that was formed in anger, back in 1941, but in the last 50 years has been the strongest bilateral relationship that our nation has," said General North. "We are here because our Japanese hosts, both government and military have asked us to be here and we'll be here as long as there is a need." The general discussed the success rate of the new fitness standards stating that with more than 332,000 active duty Airmen, 40 percent have scored a 90 or higher on their physical fitness test. "I watch the results of this every day," said General North. "Not because I think it's something that demands my looking at every day, but it's something that from an organizational standpoint, is very important." General North also discussed military finances. "A large portion of the discretionary money we have in our Air Force went into both the quality of life and the education for our Airmen and their families," said Gen. North. He challenged Airmen to use their expertise in their specific career field specialties to generate money-saving ideas and to pass them up the chain. "Our best ideas come from those that are driving our trucks, turning our wrenches, standing watch, working in the medical group, out on the line either flying or fixing, working in the back shops, the Airmen that are really out doing what we have to do to do our duty," said General North. "Hundreds of examples can save millions of dollars." Finally COMPACAF addressed the importance of suicide prevention in the Air Force. "It's very important that we realize that the loss of one of us, young or old, military or civilian, is one incredible hole in the chest in a family, but an incredible combat loss to our United States Air Force," said General North. "We need each and every one of you, we're very good at what we do, we need you for the long haul and we need you to take care of each other." In closing, General North reminded the Airmen that they are the most precious resource the Air Force has. "Think about how important you are to your families, to our nation," said General North. "Think about what we do every day."