Schwartz’s top priorities

In a recent interview with Air Force Times, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz, shown speaking during an Airman's Call on Oct. 25 at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, discussed a number of topics -- including bonuses, deployments to Afghanistan, the closure of Manas Air Base in Kyrgyzstan and PT.


Schwartz’s top priorities
By Michael Hoffman - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Feb 22, 2009 14:49:23 EST

Six months after taking over a demoralized and scandalized Air Force, Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz is turning his eyes to growing the Air Force, fixing the physical training program and getting the right mix of airmen and assets into the war zone.

The first nonfighter or bomber pilot to lead the service, Schwartz took over in June after his predecessor was fired by Defense Secretary Robert Gates.

He discussed his priorities Feb. 11 in his first interview with Air Force Times.

Q: The Air Force is growing by 10,000 airmen in 2009 and 2010. Where will new positions go?
A: Maybe 5,000 of those airmen will go to requirements. You know, the Predators, Reapers and MC-12s, the processing and analysts and so on. Another 2,500 or so will go to the nuclear business. Another 2,500 will go back into maintenance, because we overshot and took maintenance down a little bit. Then, there are smaller numbers of other disciplines where airmen will go.

Q: Has the Air Force grown its unmanned aerial vehicle capability to start meeting demands?
A: Over time, we will shift some capacity from Iraq to Afghanistan. But, bottom line, we are sitting with 34 orbits; 31 of which are Predator, a couple are Reapers and one Global Hawk orbit. Ultimately, that’s growing to a target of 50. We are also fielding a total of at least 30 and potentially 37 MC-12s, which is a manned version of a Predator-like surveillance and intelligence gathering capability. We’re making a major effort there. ... This is a place for the Air Force to be and a place where we have a significant role in making sure the joint team is successful.


Rest of article at: http://airforcetimes.com/news/2009/02/airforce_schwartz_priorities_022209/%2e