1 00:00:07,250 --> 00:00:09,490 - Hello, Tenth Air Force Airmen and families. 2 00:00:09,490 --> 00:00:11,840 I've been your Vice Commander for about eighteen months now 3 00:00:11,840 --> 00:00:14,210 and it's been an impressive experience. 4 00:00:14,210 --> 00:00:16,790 In case you didn't know, Tenth Air Force is unique 5 00:00:16,790 --> 00:00:18,810 in the bigger Air Force, as it's a horizontal slice 6 00:00:18,810 --> 00:00:20,850 of all of our combat capabilities. 7 00:00:20,850 --> 00:00:22,270 And while it's easy 8 00:00:22,270 --> 00:00:23,790 to think of the Tenth as the Fighter NAF, 9 00:00:23,790 --> 00:00:25,160 we're much more than that, 10 00:00:25,160 --> 00:00:28,020 and our other missions like Rescue, Special Operations, 11 00:00:28,020 --> 00:00:31,280 Bombers, Command and Control, Intel, Cyber, and Space 12 00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:32,590 are equally important. 13 00:00:32,590 --> 00:00:34,840 With that in mind, I want to take a couple of minutes 14 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:36,800 and highlight some Air Force level changes 15 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:40,410 that will soon affect our Cyber and Space missions. 16 00:00:40,410 --> 00:00:43,380 First, earlier last month, the Air Force announced 17 00:00:43,380 --> 00:00:45,710 that its 39 Cyber Mission Force teams 18 00:00:45,710 --> 00:00:47,710 had reached full operational capability, 19 00:00:48,858 --> 00:00:50,020 about four months ahead of schedule. 20 00:00:50,020 --> 00:00:52,340 Our 960th Cyber Operations Crew, 21 00:00:52,340 --> 00:00:54,100 headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio, 22 00:00:54,100 --> 00:00:56,880 has one of these 133 person teams 23 00:00:56,880 --> 00:00:58,760 supporting US Cyber Command. 24 00:00:58,760 --> 00:01:00,670 This is a fantastic achievement, 25 00:01:00,670 --> 00:01:03,530 and our Airmen at the 960th should feel a sense of pride 26 00:01:03,530 --> 00:01:05,440 in contributing to this success. 27 00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:08,830 Next is a reporting change for our Air Force Cyber Forces 28 00:01:08,830 --> 00:01:10,860 that will go into effect later this year. 29 00:01:10,860 --> 00:01:12,520 Today, Air Force Space Command 30 00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:14,650 is the Air Force's mission owner for Cyber. 31 00:01:14,650 --> 00:01:16,737 On October 1st, however, the mission will transfer 32 00:01:16,737 --> 00:01:20,000 to Air Combat Command, along with 24th Air Force. 33 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:22,320 Day to day, there shouldn't be a significant difference 34 00:01:22,320 --> 00:01:23,900 in how we do our business, 35 00:01:23,900 --> 00:01:25,820 as our Airmen of the 960th will remain 36 00:01:25,820 --> 00:01:27,170 under Tenth Air Force. 37 00:01:27,170 --> 00:01:28,890 But just know that over time, 38 00:01:28,890 --> 00:01:30,180 the Air Force's Cyber Guidance 39 00:01:30,180 --> 00:01:31,700 will flow from Air Combat Command 40 00:01:31,700 --> 00:01:33,240 and our Air Force Space Command. 41 00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:35,640 Now looking at the Air Force's space portfolio, 42 00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:37,660 there are some changes that are coming quickly, 43 00:01:37,660 --> 00:01:38,770 and some of these will impact 44 00:01:38,770 --> 00:01:41,050 African Tenth Air Force as well. 45 00:01:41,050 --> 00:01:43,210 First, beginning with the President 46 00:01:43,210 --> 00:01:45,970 and moving through Congress, the Secretary of Defense, 47 00:01:45,970 --> 00:01:48,560 the Secretary of the Air Force, and the Chief of Staff, 48 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:51,080 there's a renewed focus on the importance of space 49 00:01:51,080 --> 00:01:52,430 to our national security. 50 00:01:52,430 --> 00:01:53,820 Every major weapon system, 51 00:01:53,820 --> 00:01:57,120 including every system operated by our 310th Space Wing, 52 00:01:57,120 --> 00:01:59,560 is being reviewed for its ability to survive and prevail 53 00:01:59,560 --> 00:02:01,640 in a contested environment, and as a result, 54 00:02:01,640 --> 00:02:03,840 many of these are being redesigned and recapitalized 55 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:05,260 at an accelerated pace. 56 00:02:05,260 --> 00:02:07,480 To make this happen, Congress is currently considering 57 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:10,650 adding almost $7,000,000,000 to the Air Force's space budget 58 00:02:10,650 --> 00:02:12,280 beginning in FY19. 59 00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:14,500 In addition to putting money against space systems, 60 00:02:14,500 --> 00:02:17,220 the Air Force is also adding people to this mission, 61 00:02:17,220 --> 00:02:19,480 and here, Tenth Air Force is playing a significant role. 62 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:22,970 This year, 26th Space Aggressors under our 926th Wing 63 00:02:22,970 --> 00:02:25,260 added 55 positions to its manning document 64 00:02:25,260 --> 00:02:27,560 to support realistic training and tactics development 65 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:28,520 for our Air Force. 66 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:29,750 This marks the first growth 67 00:02:29,750 --> 00:02:32,160 in the Air Force's Space Aggressor mission in many years. 68 00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:33,900 Looking ahead to fiscal year 20, 69 00:02:33,900 --> 00:02:37,160 Air Force Space Command is asking the active duty Air Force, 70 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:39,230 Air National Guard, and Air Force Reserve 71 00:02:39,230 --> 00:02:41,760 to add a significant number of manpower positions 72 00:02:41,760 --> 00:02:44,480 for new missions, as well as increasing capability 73 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:46,670 in current operations, testing, and training. 74 00:02:46,670 --> 00:02:48,800 The exact amount of the manpower being requested 75 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:51,350 and the outcome of this activity 76 00:02:51,350 --> 00:02:53,370 will not be settled until early next year. 77 00:02:53,370 --> 00:02:55,710 Before I go, I want to tell each and every one of you 78 00:02:55,710 --> 00:02:58,410 that General Miller, Command Chief Loper, myself, 79 00:02:58,410 --> 00:03:00,221 and the entire Tenth Air Force staff 80 00:03:00,221 --> 00:03:04,683 appreciate you and the sacrifices you, your families, 81 00:03:05,746 --> 00:03:07,035 your employers make for this nation. 82 00:03:07,035 --> 00:03:08,470 While I spent a couple of minutes 83 00:03:08,470 --> 00:03:10,560 focusing on our Space and Cyber missions, 84 00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:13,030 know that all our missions, or more importantly all of you, 85 00:03:13,030 --> 00:03:14,450 are valued to us. 86 00:03:14,450 --> 00:03:16,950 Keep up the good work, and I hope to see you soon.