1 00:00:00,740 --> 00:00:02,796 the command chief and I just want to 2 00:00:02,796 --> 00:00:05,018 take a couple of minutes from your busy 3 00:00:05,018 --> 00:00:06,962 schedule to discuss some important 4 00:00:06,962 --> 00:00:08,740 topics that affect you and your 5 00:00:08,740 --> 00:00:10,518 families . The first our fiscal 6 00:00:10,518 --> 00:00:12,351 realities this command is facing 7 00:00:12,351 --> 00:00:14,462 because the continuing resolution and 8 00:00:14,462 --> 00:00:16,573 our future fiscal scenarios , we must 9 00:00:16,573 --> 00:00:18,796 maximize the use of our funding to meet 10 00:00:18,796 --> 00:00:20,907 our obligation to the american people 11 00:00:20,907 --> 00:00:23,110 and remain ready . One way to do this 12 00:00:23,120 --> 00:00:25,231 is by moving away from legacy weapons 13 00:00:25,231 --> 00:00:26,842 systems , an increase in the 14 00:00:26,842 --> 00:00:28,398 investments in our high end 15 00:00:28,398 --> 00:00:31,090 capabilities . Our aircraft fleet is 30 16 00:00:31,090 --> 00:00:34,560 years old And 44% are beyond their 17 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:37,350 designated service life . Over the last 18 00:00:37,350 --> 00:00:39,683 three years . With the help of Congress , 19 00:00:39,683 --> 00:00:41,739 we've been on a journey to build the 20 00:00:41,739 --> 00:00:43,572 reserve we need by reforming our 21 00:00:43,572 --> 00:00:45,683 organization , prioritizing readiness 22 00:00:45,683 --> 00:00:47,860 and investing in resiliency . We know 23 00:00:47,860 --> 00:00:50,027 that increasing communication in times 24 00:00:50,027 --> 00:00:52,193 of crisis is one of the most important 25 00:00:52,193 --> 00:00:53,916 measures we can take . As this 26 00:00:53,916 --> 00:00:56,082 situation develops . Your command team 27 00:00:56,082 --> 00:00:58,304 will keep you informed about our fiscal 28 00:00:58,304 --> 00:01:00,082 realities . The boss and I have 29 00:01:00,082 --> 00:01:02,082 determined that this man will fully 30 00:01:02,082 --> 00:01:04,310 fund U . T . A . S . To ensure we keep 31 00:01:04,320 --> 00:01:06,920 faith with you and your families as we 32 00:01:06,920 --> 00:01:09,550 maintain a state of combat readiness , 33 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:12,520 protect our nation as we know that you 34 00:01:12,530 --> 00:01:15,450 are aiming our most precious resources . 35 00:01:17,540 --> 00:01:19,484 Let's transition to something that 36 00:01:19,484 --> 00:01:21,540 makes the boston happy being able to 37 00:01:21,540 --> 00:01:23,651 brag and all the great things you are 38 00:01:23,651 --> 00:01:25,651 doing for this nation . And in this 39 00:01:25,651 --> 00:01:28,040 case for citizens of Afghanistan , we 40 00:01:28,040 --> 00:01:30,300 all watched in awe as our mobility air 41 00:01:30,300 --> 00:01:32,300 forces completed one of the largest 42 00:01:32,300 --> 00:01:35,100 evacuations in history . Just this 43 00:01:35,100 --> 00:01:37,560 artist . That's right Chief . We all 44 00:01:37,560 --> 00:01:39,950 know of the C5 and C17 air crews who 45 00:01:39,950 --> 00:01:42,320 were in place within 24 hours of 46 00:01:42,320 --> 00:01:44,431 volunteering for service . There were 47 00:01:44,431 --> 00:01:46,750 also tanker crews flying nonstop making 48 00:01:46,750 --> 00:01:48,972 an air bridge from the United States to 49 00:01:48,972 --> 00:01:51,010 Germany to Qatar to Afghanistan , 50 00:01:51,020 --> 00:01:52,909 making sure the mission was being 51 00:01:52,909 --> 00:01:55,000 accomplished . The command also had 52 00:01:55,010 --> 00:01:57,232 aircraft maintenance , aerial porters , 53 00:01:57,232 --> 00:01:59,454 intelligence for support airmen and the 54 00:01:59,454 --> 00:02:01,480 list goes on and on of our airmen . 55 00:02:01,490 --> 00:02:04,340 Doing incredible work today . Our 56 00:02:04,340 --> 00:02:06,396 reserve heroes are providing support 57 00:02:06,396 --> 00:02:08,618 for Operation Allies . Welcome ensuring 58 00:02:08,618 --> 00:02:10,840 afghan civilians are being cared for at 59 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:13,007 places like Joint Base McGuire , Dix , 60 00:02:13,007 --> 00:02:15,062 Lakehurst philadelphia International 61 00:02:15,062 --> 00:02:17,173 Airport and Holloman Air Force Base . 62 00:02:17,173 --> 00:02:19,229 Just to name a few locations . There 63 00:02:19,229 --> 00:02:21,229 are so many airmen we can highlight 64 00:02:21,229 --> 00:02:23,173 across the command as boss said to 65 00:02:23,173 --> 00:02:25,284 airmen , I would like to specifically 66 00:02:25,284 --> 00:02:27,540 highlight our senior airman Colleen . 67 00:02:27,550 --> 00:02:30,280 McCullough , Bondi and Airman first 68 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:34,110 class Hamad Zoe Zanna . They are both 69 00:02:34,110 --> 00:02:36,388 native afghans who immigrated to the U . 70 00:02:36,388 --> 00:02:38,390 S . And are now serving as reserve 71 00:02:38,390 --> 00:02:40,390 ear's . They are providing valuable 72 00:02:40,390 --> 00:02:42,650 language , cultural knowledge and other 73 00:02:42,650 --> 00:02:45,280 assistance to task Force and afghans 74 00:02:45,290 --> 00:02:48,180 transitioning through Hollywood . They 75 00:02:48,190 --> 00:02:50,710 demonstrated a strategic depth . We 76 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:52,910 offer the Air Force by having the 77 00:02:52,910 --> 00:02:55,260 service with skills and talents that 78 00:02:55,260 --> 00:02:57,160 can be called upon when needed . 79 00:02:57,940 --> 00:03:00,107 Exactly . Chief . Thank you . Chairman 80 00:03:00,107 --> 00:03:02,590 for Bondi . And so these are you make 81 00:03:02,590 --> 00:03:06,340 us proud and now on to our final 82 00:03:06,340 --> 00:03:08,562 discussion point today . When would you 83 00:03:08,562 --> 00:03:10,729 provide an update on where we are as a 84 00:03:10,729 --> 00:03:12,284 command for mandatory covid 85 00:03:12,284 --> 00:03:14,229 vaccinations with the december 2nd 86 00:03:14,229 --> 00:03:16,007 deadline to be fully vaccinated 87 00:03:16,007 --> 00:03:18,920 blooming First as a command . We have 88 00:03:18,930 --> 00:03:21,120 increased fully vaccinated airman over 89 00:03:21,130 --> 00:03:23,970 54% since the sec def mandate in 90 00:03:23,970 --> 00:03:26,530 September as I have said on record 91 00:03:26,530 --> 00:03:29,650 before , vaccines are mandatory and at 92 00:03:29,650 --> 00:03:31,650 this point you need to be getting a 93 00:03:31,650 --> 00:03:33,380 shot or thinking about future 94 00:03:33,380 --> 00:03:35,491 employment outside of the Air Force . 95 00:03:35,640 --> 00:03:37,751 This is not an adversarial approach . 96 00:03:37,751 --> 00:03:39,640 We have been ordered to get these 97 00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:41,807 vaccines and that is what we are going 98 00:03:41,807 --> 00:03:44,430 to do is but we're not finished as we 99 00:03:44,430 --> 00:03:46,208 continue to process medical and 100 00:03:46,208 --> 00:03:48,319 religious exemptions from the field . 101 00:03:48,319 --> 00:03:50,263 These exemption packages are being 102 00:03:50,263 --> 00:03:52,530 processed on an individual basis at the 103 00:03:52,530 --> 00:03:54,697 local wing level all the way up to the 104 00:03:54,697 --> 00:03:56,863 headquarters and then onto my desk for 105 00:03:56,863 --> 00:03:59,200 final decision , I will look at them 106 00:03:59,210 --> 00:04:01,550 all and I promised these reviews are 107 00:04:01,550 --> 00:04:04,020 above board and have the best interests 108 00:04:04,030 --> 00:04:06,560 of you along with the mission in mind . 109 00:04:07,440 --> 00:04:09,273 The health and well being of our 110 00:04:09,273 --> 00:04:11,162 reserve citizen Airmen is a ready 111 00:04:11,162 --> 00:04:13,329 decision . Our airmen must be ready to 112 00:04:13,329 --> 00:04:15,273 execute our mission at all times , 113 00:04:15,273 --> 00:04:17,490 including places throughout the world 114 00:04:17,500 --> 00:04:19,700 where vaccination rates are low and 115 00:04:19,700 --> 00:04:22,440 disease transmission is hot . Since the 116 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:24,810 onset of COVID-19 . We have worked 117 00:04:24,820 --> 00:04:27,042 diligently to educate our airmen on the 118 00:04:27,042 --> 00:04:29,020 safety and effectiveness of these 119 00:04:29,020 --> 00:04:32,330 covert 19 vaccines . We appreciate you 120 00:04:32,330 --> 00:04:34,680 all . I do not want to see anyone 121 00:04:34,680 --> 00:04:36,847 having to make a decision to leave the 122 00:04:36,847 --> 00:04:39,150 service . But as a commander , it is my 123 00:04:39,150 --> 00:04:41,480 responsibility as a command team . It's 124 00:04:41,490 --> 00:04:43,657 our responsibility to look out for the 125 00:04:43,657 --> 00:04:45,960 health and welfare of the entire force 126 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:48,584 for our government employees . You 127 00:04:48,584 --> 00:04:50,362 should have notification of the 128 00:04:50,362 --> 00:04:52,529 requirement to be vaccinated as well . 129 00:04:52,529 --> 00:04:54,751 You are a valuable member of our family 130 00:04:54,751 --> 00:04:56,640 and we need you to accomplish our 131 00:04:56,640 --> 00:04:58,640 mission . If you have any questions 132 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:00,862 about your requirements , speak to your 133 00:05:00,862 --> 00:05:03,196 supervisor and speak to your leadership , 134 00:05:03,196 --> 00:05:05,251 boss laid out his plan for executing 135 00:05:05,251 --> 00:05:07,251 covert vaccines to the force . As a 136 00:05:07,251 --> 00:05:09,473 matter of readiness . As we spoke about 137 00:05:09,473 --> 00:05:11,640 earlier , the command is having fiscal 138 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:13,696 challenges and we need each of us to 139 00:05:13,696 --> 00:05:15,950 accomplish our mission as a chief and I 140 00:05:15,950 --> 00:05:18,061 continue toward the end of our tenure 141 00:05:18,061 --> 00:05:20,172 next year . Know that we are not done 142 00:05:20,172 --> 00:05:22,172 fighting for each of you and all of 143 00:05:22,172 --> 00:05:24,228 your families . We know we can't pay 144 00:05:24,228 --> 00:05:26,500 you enough . That's for sure . Or say 145 00:05:26,500 --> 00:05:28,611 thanks enough for your service to our 146 00:05:28,611 --> 00:05:30,680 nation . We just hope that everyone 147 00:05:30,680 --> 00:05:33,070 knows you matter to the two of us .