National Commission to visit Barksdale

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Katherine Holt
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. --  The National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force is scheduled to visit with Air Force Reserve and active-duty members here Sept. 29 - Oct. 2 to get their perspectives on how best to shape the future force.

Active-duty members from the 2nd Bomb Wing and reservists from the 307th Bomb Wing will come together and provide the commissioners a unique look at each wing's mission through briefings, tours and discussions.

"We are excited to show the commission the great partnership the 2nd Bomb Wing has with our reserve counterparts," said Col. Andrew Gebara, 2nd Bomb Wing commander. "We live the one team, one fight mantra here."

The commission was established by Congress earlier this year to study the Air Force's three components to determine if and how the structure should be modified to best fill current and future mission requirements with available resources. This independent analysis and the commission's recommendations are due to the President and Congress by Feb. 1, 2014.

The Commission is composed of eight members, of whom four were appointed by the President and one each by the Chairman of the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; the Ranking Member of the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; the Chairman of the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives; and the Ranking Member of the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives.

Their job is to assess how the Department of Defense develops requirements and assigns and allocates resources, capabilities, and forces to the combatant commands; assess how the Air Force distributes resources, capabilities, and forces by component according to those requirements.

"We are certain that the National Commission on the Structure of the Air Force will conclude that the 307th Bomb Wing, working in tandem with our active duty counterparts, is a combat ready, cost effective and experienced force that provides tremendous value for America," said Col. Jonathan Ellis, 307th BW commander.

The commission is scheduled to hold an off-base hearing at the Bossier Civic Center in Bossier City, La. They will hear from squadron commanders and superintendents from the active and reserve units on Barksdale. Next they will hear from state and local community leaders as well as members of the public.

The NCSAF will continue to visit with more units with future a future visit scheduled for Peterson AFB and Colorado Springs, Colo.