CJCS visits Ramstein, addresses future concerns

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Michael Voss
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey visited Airmen at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, today as part of a five country, six-day-tour that included the mission completion ceremony in Iraq.

During part of his first USO holiday tour as chairman, the general presented a Purple Heart to Tech. Sgt. Richard Chwalik, for wounds he received during a deployment to Afghanistan. In addition, the 37-year-military veteran and most senior ranking military officer also took time to address Airmen as well as hold a question and answer session with tomorrow's leaders stationed in Europe.

The chairman started the town hall with a message for all the service members and their families.

"It is a great time to remember why we serve," Dempsey said. "Thank you for being diplomats in a foreign nation, thank you for your service."

He also highlighted his priorities of achieving our national objectives in the current conflicts, developing Joint Force 2020, renewing our commitment to the profession of arms and keeping faith with our military and their family.

"I often get asked how we are going to figure out and meet the future challenges we face like budget and force restructuring, and I always answer we have 2.2 million service members in uniform and spouses who are doing the heavy lifting," the chairman explained. "Our greatest resource is our people and we are going to be fine."

The chairman explained that he has three major transitions he faces during his tenure. The transition of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, the DoD transition from a large to a small budget and the transition back to a training force.

"If you are a major or staff sergeant and below, you know nothing of the military but deployments; we have to transition into a force that trains for future contingencies. The reality is the country is facing difficult financial times and we are going to do our part to meet those challenges," said Dempsey.

The chairman explained there are four major areas the department can use to achieve required upcoming budget cuts; manpower, modernization and equipment, training and maintenance or military construction. He expressed the importance of getting the right balance between the four in order to maintain a balanced force.

"We are looking at everything. We're not talking about dramatic changes, but we have force structure changes coming, and we have a moral obligation to see those service members back into the civilian workforce,"

Dempsey said. "Nothing is off the table, but we are not going to do anything without first studying the effects those cuts would mean to recruitment, retention and to promises made to those already serving."

The chairman closed the town hall with a thank you to service members and their families, some words of encouragement about meeting the upcoming challenges and a statement about today's military force.

"If you have ever wanted to serve in a time when you are needed--now is that time. Tomorrow's military will need leaders and mentors from today," he said. "Thank you very much and happy holidays."