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Show '5 Hilltop Times July 16, 1992 McPeak clears up mission statement "We cannot know where the next trouble spot will be," he said. "We know that every interesting location on Earth is visited several times a day by our large constellation of satellites. And we know that no place on Earth is more than 23 flying hours away from Whiteman AFB (Mo., future home of the by TSgt. Oscar Dixon Air Force News Service WASHINGTON The Air Force's mission statement was unclear, so in 13 words Gen. Merrill A. McPeak clarified it. "To defend the United States through control and exploitation of air and space" is the mission, said the Air Force chief of staff during a speech at Air University, Maxwell AFB, Ala. "This statement describas our purposes today and what our purposes will be. "How can you reorganize, restructure, how can you build a quality Air Force if you cannot say in clear, simple language what our mission is? We need a mission that unifies all our people." McPeak said in the past that, if asked, Air Force people responded to the mission question with something like "to organize, train and equip forces for prompt and sustained air combat." And while he agrees these "functions" assigned to the Department of the Air Force by the National Security Act of 1947 and subsequent Department of Defense instructions are important, they're not the mission. "(These) are functions we must do, and that we understand and do well," the general said. "But, we do not exist as an institution for the purpose of organizing, equipping, and training ourselves. We have a much broader, inspiring purpose." The general said because Air Force people are loyal, without a clear understanding of overarching purposes, some give their loyalty to the next best thing their particular job or their equipment. The central idea behind the new mission statement, the general said, is to define the Air Force's mission in terms of the medium in which it operates air and space. He explained the key words in the statement, control and exploitation, this way: Air Force Mission B-2)- ." "To defend the United States through control and exploitation of air and space." McPeak said the mission statement is also important to help guide people through this time of change and challenge in the Air Force. Gen. Merrill A. McPeak Air Force Chief of Staff Control. "If we control air and space ourselves, we can move through it at will and we can decide who else shall move through it. "Whoever does this, whoever controls air and space, accrues enormous military advantages." f O Exploitation.' "To exploit air and space means to understand this arena and to possess efficient and effective means to operate there. "(We have) to make air and space work for us, to manage them in such a way as to reap the military advantages manifest therein." The general said the Air Force has often translated its ability to exploit air and space into direct payoff in combat, and in performing tasks to achieve national objectives. "So, control and exploitation cover the whole range of things we want to do in air and space." non-comb- at McPeak added that because time is so critical to military operations, the value of air and space forces increases. "The secretary (of the Air Force) and I are workAir Force. ing hard to build a more combat-oriente- d The Air Force is undergoing an almost physical transformation, a metamorphosis, a shedding of skin as we go to the next stage of development. Changes of this kind are always painful, but we can see that it's necessary and the Objective Air Force will be a better one." In addition to the changes, the general said people face unpleasant challenges such as budget cuts, end strength reductions, force structure losses, base closures and program cancellations. "These two sets of changes those we are stepping up to voluntarily and those being handed to us can weaken our Air Force. We must not allow this to happen. "We need a mission that defines what makes us that can inspire, and that can make sacrifice seem worthwhile. special, "Understanding our mission will help by giving us a steady compass bearing to get through this heavy weather and into the clear," he said. "That's why the mission statement is so important." "Sure I want it all... quality jcar insurance, great service and payments we can afford. Jltxuidami BANQUET FACILITY FOR UP TO FORTY PEOPLE J Stvkig fna fin ft In... 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