2nd Air Force commander visits Goodfellow

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Anne Gathua
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
GOODFELLOW AFB, Texas --  Training, Airmen and success. Those were the three key themes Maj. Gen. Mary Kay Hertog, commander 2nd Air Force, both spoke of and saw first-hand during her visit here Wednesday and Thursday.

During her two-day tour, Gen. Hertog visited various agencies on base and spent time with Team Goodfellow servicemembers.

"I'm very impressed with the 17 TRG at Goodfellow," said Gen Hertog. "as well as the support provided by the 17 MDG and MSG."

Touring the DoD Fire Academy and seeing the training firefighters go through to make sure they are good to go to perform their jobs made Gen. Hertog have immense respect for the instructors and students who go through the training.

"I now know what it means and how special it is when firefighters proudly call themselves 'Fire Dogs,'" the general added.

Gen. Hertog was also impressed with the Intel training she witnessed.

She said. "What impressed me the most was to see our one- and two-stripe Airmen learning to analyze intelligence, identifying the threat, roll it up and making it into something that can be used to defeat or counter an enemy. It was incredible watching them train knowing in six to seven months they would be in the field doing their job. That's what amazed me."

Gen. Hertog said she admires Goodfellow's "top-notch" Airmen and compared their training to hers when she entered the Air Force as more interactive, flexible and technologically savvy.

"I wish I had gone through this kind of training 31 years ago when I came into the Air Force," said Gen. Hertog. "It's high speed, demanding, rigorous and it adequately prepares them for what they will face in their jobs at their home station and when they deploy."

Gen. Hertog said her goal and mission as the 2nd Air Force commander is to produce the best trained combat-ready Airmen.

"The training we provide has to support our mission in every way, shape or form," said Gen. Hertog. "If that means integrating different technology, or more simulators and or different training methodologies or setting higher standards, we will do it. Training is the foundation that supports our mission and as the mission changes, training must change as well. We have to make sure we are as flexible and responsive as possible because things change so fast."

Gen. Hertog said the Air Force takes its training very seriously. Every couple of years, 2nd Air Force staff members sit down with the career field managers of the various training career fields and examines courses to make sure they meet the needs of that career field and the Air Force.

"We have to continually assess what we're doing," said Gen. Hertog. "We can't just let things go on autopilot. If new technology is available we have to start using it; if there's a new threat we have to counter it."

"We have to be really critical of ourselves to make sure we're doing the right thing at the right time for the right career field and for the Air Force," she continued. "Our goal is to make sure we're training our Airmen for any environment, be it day-to-day normal activities or combat. They should expect and demand that we continue to mold our training to what they need especially in terms of the latest technology."
Gen. Hertog advised Airmen to take their training seriously.

"There's a reason why we train and we will continue to train you throughout your Air Force career," the general said. "Expect it and make it a part of your lifestyle. I have talked to Airmen who have been in combat and asked them if they were scared and they said 'No ma'am, there was no time to be scared, my training kicked in, I just did what I was trained to do.'

"When you hear that, you know our training has been successful," General Hertog continued. "We perform to the level of our training. If Airmen perform well it means we trained them well. Never pass up an opportunity to train."

Gen. Hertog said the key to success for her and any Airman is hard work, people who believe in Airmen enough to help them along the way and doing the best job you can.
"To me, success is not your rank," she said. "Be willing to serve others. Don't worry about getting credit and good things will come to you."

"A leader is someone who cares and wants to make a difference, who leaves things better than they found them and grows and nurtures their replacement every single day," Gen. Hertog continued. "I firmly believe that everything else will follow suit as long as you take care of your people."

Gen. Hertog said she enjoyed her time at Goodfellow and was thoroughly impressed by the dedication and motivation of the instructors and students.

"I had a great time," said Maj. Gen. Hertog. "I was blown away by the training on this base, the people's attitude and the great community relations. I want to come back and spend more time here."