SECDEF visits Elmendorf, addresses servicemembers

Published June 2, 2009
By Airman Jack Sanders
3rd Wing Public Affairs

ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates spoke with Arctic Warriors here Monday.

Secretary Gates held a town hall meeting and visited military members, where he addressed servicemembers' questions.

"What I'm here for, as I am every place, every military facility I visit, is for field ground truth as opposed to the slides that I get at the Department of Defense," he said.

Some of the topics Secretary Gates discussed were: deployment increases and return dates, Air Force cutbacks, future replacement aircraft, weapon upgrades, as well as a variety of other topics.

A Marine from the Company D (-), Anti-Terrorism Battalion here asked about recent increases of Taliban activates in Pakistan. How do you see that affecting deployments to Afghanistan and Pakistan?

"I think the actions of the Pakistanis over the last few weeks have been very encouraging," Secretary Gates responded. "Now, we're seeing the Pakistani Army and its political leaders acting in harmony and really taking the fight to the enemy. I think it will not have an impact on our deployments to Afghanistan."

An Airman assigned to the 381st Intelligence Squadron asked about the number of Air Force projects that were cut, and if we'll have the tools needed to succeed in another war?

"There are a number of programs for the Air Force that we actually (increased)," Secretary Gates said. "I think that the guiding principal going forward as we confront a range of conflict, where even the conventional capabilities will involve asymmetric kinds of fighting, we need the equipment that has the greatest possible versatility for the greatest range of potential conflict. I'm confident we have the country protected, and are able to prevail ..."

He said there are two ways to look at the military's tactical air capabilities. The first being whether or not there are enough aircraft to accomplish the mission, while the other is the current and future threat. Between Reapers, F-22s, plus the F-35s, Gates said the United States will have roughly 1,200 fifth generation combat aircraft by 2020.

"So, both our numeral and technological edge will remain extremely strong and far superior to any potential competitor, for at least the next 15 to 20 years just based on the program we already have in place today," the secretary said.

The final question of the town hall meeting came from Fort Richardson's A Company, 307th Signal Battalion Soldier, who wanted to know if there will be better weapons fielded.

"The only discussion that I've heard along these lines has been, from the troops, has been on the reliability of the M-16 and the M-4," Secretary Gates said. "I think what I've been told is that; for most combat situations the M-4 is best at relatively close circumstances, where the M-16 is better at a greater distance. In terms of other weapons ... I haven't heard this before, but I'll inquire."

After the questions, both Elmendorf and Fort Richardson leaders presented the secretary with tokens of appreciations. Secretary Gates then met with and presented a coin to each of the nearly 300 servicemembers who attended the town hall meeting.

"I thought he was very knowledgeable on every topic," said Army Sgt. Derrick Watts, 95th Chemical Company Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Explosive operations sergeant from Fort Richardson.

After the town hall meeting, the secretary traveled to Fort Greely, Alaska, to tour the Missile Defense Agency facilities there.