ACC commander looks to the future of command and control

  • Published
  • By Noel Getlin
  • 505th CCW Public Affairs office
HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. --  Gen. William Fraser, commander of Air Combat Command, visited the 505th Command and Control Wing at Hurlburt Field, Fla., to reemphasize the importance of the 505th CCW as the foundation for command and control, training, tactics development and testing in the Air Force.

He spent the day talking with the wing's commanders and led a commander's call where he opened the floor to questions. He said he was impressed with the 505th CCW and how they are accomplishing the mission.

"C2 (command and control) is an integral part of today's fight, and it's very important that we continue to resource this mission as we fight today's fight," General Fraser said. "That's why I came here so early on in my tour."

The general said he was pleased with the teamwork at the wing, especially with joint and combined military training. As the Air Force continues to transform along with the changing global situations and emerging technology, U.S. forces have adapted by fighting with joint and coalition partners, integrating assets and standardizing procedures. The 505th CCW works closely with the Army Joint Support Team in air battle management and leads the way in training joint and allied AOC warfighters.

During his tour, General Fraser visited the Army Joint Support Team's Joint Air-Ground C2 Lab, where the Army trains on the Army Battle Command System in conjunction with joint C2 systems and networks. The facility is associated with the 505th CCW. Army Col. Michael Klingele, director of the Army Joint Support Team, said the facility is the only place in the Army that trains the air ground integration aspects of the ABCS. They train Soldiers how to plan and employ air power capabilities.

"We have continued to improve the way we do our joint business and it is one team, one fight," General Fraser said.

During the commander's call, he emphasized the need to keep an eye on the future and the challenge of having sufficient resources to get the job done.

"ACC must focus on today and do what we can to prepare for tomorrow," he said. "We live in a dangerous and unpredictable world and are having to make some tough decisions."

The general also told the Airmen that he wants to listen and learn from others no matter where they come from or how long they've been around. We can always use fresh ideas or a better method for accomplishing a task.
General Fraser finished the day by discussing three key focus areas: People, Power and Places.

"It's about our people, it's about our combat unit capability, our power and it's also about the places where we do our job," he said, "because the nation is counting on us, and we're all counting on you."