PACAF leader visits Osan Published Jan. 31, 2008 By Tech. Sgt. Matt Summers 51st Fighter Wing OSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea -- While striking the proper balance between mission readiness and quality of life is not a new issue in Pacific Air Forces, it is one leadership must take "one bite at a time," according to the commanding general. Gen. Carrol H. "Howie" Chandler, PACAF commander, addressed this issue at several different venues during a three-day tour of Osan and U.S. Forces Korea headquarters at Yongsan Garrison in Seoul, Jan. 28 to 30. Osan was the third stop on his tour of PACAF bases in Guam, Japan and Korea. Speaking to more than 600 Team Osan enlisted members and more than 100 officers in separate commander's calls, the general provided insight into the priorities not only of PACAF, but the Air Force as a whole. "While it (the 2008 budget) isn't perfect, it's better than it was in 2007," he said, in reference to a significant decrease, $1.6 billion, in the Air Force operating budget. To keep within its budget, PACAF was forced to look at areas such as flight hours, exercises and cutting back hours at base facilities and other service contracts, according to a 2007 PACAF news service story. "We've asked wing commanders to go back and try to pick up the pieces and get back to the standard that we expect and our people have come to expect. "Because quite honestly that's why they wanted to be a part of the greatest Air Force in the world -- because we're willing to take care of them and give them things they need, not only to do their job, but to take care of their families," the general added. General Chandler, who's spent nearly 13 of his 34 years in PACAF, said while prioritizing isn't easy and there's not an "overnight" solution to all the challenges the command faces, he believes the opportunity to strike that right balance exist. The commander believes Air Force Smart Operations 21, a program created in 2006 as a dedicated effort to maximize value and minimize waste in Air Force operations, can play a key role in stretching critical resources. "AFSO 21 will help us do things better," said General Chandler. "Help us perhaps produce some money or free up people to allow us to get after readiness issues we have while at the same time help to solve quality-of-life, and I would say quality-of-work, the places where people work, and the equipment they have to do their job (issues)." He emphasized that while Airman have a "clean sheet of paper" to look at their jobs and processes, Air Force leadership is most concerned and will take an expanded look at those time- or money-saving ideas that affect the overall service and not necessarily a single work area. During a whirlwind tour of the base, the general said Osan has come a long way in terms of infrastructure upgrades, but there's still a long way to go. "We've done great work with our Airman's quarters -- which is exactly the right thing to do," he said. "There are some issues to fix with the NCO dormitories, and the wing commander made that perfectly clear." General Chandler, a command pilot who's flown the F-15 and F-16 aircraft, said PACAF always needs to look at how its Airmen can increase the quality of training. "I know there have been range use issues here on the peninsula," he said. One such issue was the closing of the Kooni Range Complex, only minutes flying time from base, in 2005. Sending units off the peninsula to train in exercises such as Red Flag-Alaska, a 10-day air combat training exercise conducted four times a year, is a way to generate more training opportunities, according to the general. Currently, 70 Airmen from the 25th Fighter Squadron and 51st Maintenance Group, are deployed to Thailand for the field-training exercise Cope Tiger 2008, designed to enhance combined readiness and interoperability. Training at Osan begins with the delicate art of maintaining aircraft, an area where General Chandler said the command stands in good shape. He said his staff is taking a critical look at maintenance in the wake of recent personnel cuts throughout the Air Force to make sure people are available to do the job. General Chandler assumed command of the more than 50,000 military and civilians serving in PACAF during a ceremony in November 2007 at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. The command's nine major locations and numerous smaller facilities, primarily in Hawaii, Alaska, Japan, Guam and South Korea, support an area of responsibility extending from the west coast of the United States to the east coast of Africa and from the Arctic to the Antarctic. The area is home to nearly two billion people who live in 44 countries. The general said he already looks forward to getting back to Osan to spend more time with the men and women who are "Ready to Fight Tonight."