8th AF commander tours 2nd Bomb Wing Published March 3, 2016 By Senior Airman Jannelle Dickey 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- While the 2nd Bomb Wing is proud to host Eighth Air Force headquarters here at Barksdale Air Force Base daily, Team Barksdale had the unique opportunity to invite the Mighty Eighth commander and command chief to tour local operations, Feb. 29 through March 1. Maj. Gen. Richard Clark, 8th AF commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Marty Anderson, 8th AF command chief, visited various squadrons along with base leadership to pass along their gratitude and see Airmen at work first-hand. “We know how stretched the bomb wing is from the aviators and maintainers to medics and every level of support,” said Clark. “We understand you are busy, and we want to say thank you because you are doing a great job executing our mission.” “I appreciate that Gen. Clark took the time to come and visit us,” said Airman 1st Class Zacchaeus Yarber, 2nd Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels distribution operator. “His efforts to show interest in how we support the mission is inspiring.” Prior to the tour, Clark expressed his theme of promoting bomber ethos and asked the wing, as well as the entire command, to have a global focus. “Owning the ethos of bomber Airmen is about the global mindedness,” he said. “[We have] the ability to project presence, kinetic effects, etc., and we can do it from home or a base abroad … anytime or anywhere a combatant commander desires.” Clark stressed the importance of embracing the Every Airman Counts concept and the need for everyone to understand their role and purpose in getting the mission done. “We are not in a manpower state across the Air Force where we have expendable Airmen,” he said. “It’s critical to understand how you connect right to the top end of our mission statement and how that connects to the larger end of national security. There is not one Airman on this base that isn’t essential to getting our mission done.”