[tlj18]

It probably has more to do with the USAF not wanting to contribute anything near their fair share to the war effort.

[joe fonebone]

that is exactly why...and it is about damn time, too...we got troops on the ground 24/7, and this elitist pompous ass says having guys here in the u.s. controling drones in iraq is too stressful on his guys....what a blithering idiot..don’t let the door hit ya dude

[K-oneTexas]

Excuse me. Not wanting to contribute their fair share. Too many years in the field for me to accept that line.

There are Airman over the world, including the sand box as well as other places pulling their weight every day. Some places actually 'in civilization' and some in remote boonies that no -ne sees or hears about. Active Duty, Reservists and National Guardsmen standing beside and along with the US Army, US Marines, US Navy and US Coast Guard. Doing daily what they do ... provide exemplary service to their country.

For USAF Reservist over the years, including last year prior to my retirement, flew upwards of 80% of all transport missions ... hauling everyone (regardless of Service) and their equipment where it needed to be. Also flying patrol and cover for ground forces.

You must also remember that the total number of service members is controlled and capped by Congress. Ad of 2007 legislation:
US Army - 520,000 (36% of Total Force)
US Navy - 373,830 (26%)
US Marines - 186,209 (13%)
US Air Force - 328,270 (23%)
US Coast Guard - 39,121 (3%)
For a total of 1,449,428 service members

All service personnel in all branches are serving exceptionally in trying times. There is no need to slight any of them. Their commitments are world-wide not just in the sand box. Their ability to perform to must be measured against their total commitment world-wide and their numbers and the mission they perform ... this is where you measure pulling their weight. All Services are pulling their weight. Not all missions can be rated similarly, say taking a hill (Army or Marine) vs flying patrol or escort duties. Like apples and oranges.

More than likely this 'disagreement' is over matter of policy, high-up policy on global/macro things. If its drones, build more ... you would actually be surprised to see how they are utilized and by whom. If its airframe then what is the mission ... not who's the constituent. If it's leadership failure to complete mission objectives, then find new leaders.

With civilian oversight of the military I can assure you that they they have differing views. When that happens the military always loses.

I could tell stories about the Air Force ... but none of them include folks being somewhere and not pulling their weight, working their a**es off. Oh yes, when time allows and work is over, we can parting like all get-out. But that is the exception in my experience. I've worked from the squadron to the NAF level stateside and overseas ... and what slackers there were we canned.

Sorry if I'm rough but I don't easily accept comments like that cause they reflect on the men and women in the field. Many my friends still out there.

[PurpleMan]

Text of Gates’ remarks

http://www.defenselink.mil/home/pdf/SecDe001.PD

[ODC-GIRL]

As a 28 year member of the Air National Guard, I too can attest to the hard work being done both here at home and abroad to fight the war on terror. We went from “Weekend Warriors” to a 24/7 operation in a matter of hours on 9-11 and continue to this day. We have flown thousands of hours for Homeland Defense and done multiple rotations into the desert. Our personnel have been deployed all over the world and to the southern border, responded to Katrina and to wildfires and other natural disasters around the country and the world.

This is being played out throughout the Active Duty Air Force, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard.

In addition, Air Force members are being tapped for “in lieu of” positions to augment the Army. Highly skilled, specialized Airmen are being sent over to stand guard, wash trucks, protect convoys or type paperwork, while their jobs back home get spread out over the thinned down crowd left to pick up the “slack”.

While I can’t speak to policy set at the highest levels of either the Air Force or the Army regarding tour lengths or other such things, I can sure tell we that we are busting our humps every day to fight this war and protect our homes.

[SHOOT THE MOON bat]

I guess that must have been my imagination meeting my Airman First Class Daughter at the airport in March as she returned from Iraq. I guess thats not her making plans to go back next January. And thats only having been in the Air Force since March 07. I guess she’s not contributing nearly as much as my big bad nephew thats in the Marines for 4 years and has spent it sitting on his ass back here in the states and in Japan.

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Good point. The only thing the US Chair Force is good for is sitting in the rear with the gear (except for the aircrews, which make up about 0.000001% of the USAF). When I was in the Navy, I knew Air Force guys that would throw a tizzy fit and have a midlife crisis over having to do a 90-day deployment to Germany. There's tough duty, go to Germany for 90 days, work bankers hours, and drink German beer with bratwurst at night.

For Chair Force guys, life is tough if:
1. They don't get a choice between Coke and Pepsi.
2. Their barracks cable TV only gets 36 channels instead of the usual 72.
3. They have to walk more than two barracks buildings over to get to the hot-tub.
4. They're in a 24-hour duty status for 3 days a month instead of the usual 1.