BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, California –
Maj. Gen. John C. Flournoy, Jr., 4th Air Force commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Brian C.L. Wong, 4th Air Force command chief, visited Beale Air Force Base last weekend to officiate the ceremony re-designating the 940th to an air refueling wing.
At the base theater, Flournoy spoke to a large gathering of wing members. He welcomed them as the newest addition to the Numbered Air Force and shared his expectations for all Airmen, which he calls his “Nine Lines.”
Maj. Gen. Flournoy’s Nine Lines
- Live the core values 24/7, on and off duty, in and out of uniform
- Treat others how you want a loved one to be treated
- Hold yourselves and others accountable
- Be fit to fight year-round
- Be mission ready year-round
- Use your chain of command
- Develop a culture of compliance
- Be a good wingman
- Have fun!
Flournoy spoke about the mission of 4th Air Force and how it fits into the bigger picture. There are over 31,000 Airmen in 4th Air Force, making up nearly half of the Air Force Reserve.
“If you’re in the Air Force Reserve Command, you affect every other command,” said Flournoy.
Additionally, Flournoy and Wong also spent time meeting with smaller groups of junior enlisted Airmen, NCOs and officers over breakfast and lunch. They listened to the reservist’s perspectives and encouraged NCOs to continue to be an active part of leading their units and inspire change.
“You don’t need a title to be a leader,” said Wong. “Many things have changed because we have heard about issues from the grass roots level. Continue to shake that tree.”
Throughout the weekend, Flournoy made sure to thank members for their commitment.
“You have already worked your 40 plus hour work week, or are going to school full time, raising a family or whatever you do in your civilian life and still chose to be here [on the weekend],” said Flournoy. “That’s a big deal.”
Wong also took the opportunity while at Beale to thank Airmen and remind them of their importance.
“We serve in the greatest Air Force in this world,” said Wong. “We’re not the greatest because of the fighters, the KC-135 Stratotanker that’s out there, the cyber technology or the satellites that float around the sky. We are the greatest because of men and women like yourself.”