Downrange Perspective

Gen. Arthur Lichte says his first trip as commander of Air Mobility Command earlier this month to Southwest Asia left a lasting impression. “We’re saving lives every day and playing a vital role in the war on terrorism,” he said. “For me to see it firsthand, [that] drove home our involvement. I have the highest respect and admiration to everyone over here.” Lichte also says it remains an imperative to provide airmen who operate in harm’s way with modern aircraft and equipment since some mobility platforms are more than 40 years old. Despite the age of the mobility aircraft in the theater, Lichte says he was impressed with the mission-capable rates that the airmen are able to achieve. “Producing mission-capable rates of more than 97 percent in the hot, sandy environment of a desert is absolutely amazing,” he said. (USAF report by Capt. Christopher Moore)