Thanks, Buzz - Air Force Community - Air Force Times

Thanks, Buzz

When Gen. T. Michael “Buzz” Moseley steps down as chief of staff, troops will lose a leader who gave everything he had to the Air Force. Moseley is a fighter pilot and combat commander who rose to the top and was at ease among Washington bigwigs. He loves the Air Force and its traditions and was doubly comfortable among airmen.

On a ceremonial visit to France in 2007, Moseley took along a contingent of crew chiefs and relatively junior pilots. He could have spent most of that trip hobnobbing with big shots. He chose to spend much of his time with staff sergeants and captains. An affable man who drew genuine pleasure from rapping with troops, Moseley enjoyed reminding airmen that they are part of history, something bigger than themselves.

In the end, Moseley was never able to spend enough time with the troops. He might have had more time if the nation hadn’t been caught up in two wars and if the Air Force weren’t feeling the strain of continuous combat since 1991.

To his credit, Moseley spent his tenure making the case that airpower is the decisive force in warfare and that the Air Force is a fighting service, not an appendage to the ground combat branches.

Moseley wanted a new service dress uniform. Many liked the idea — but more, it seemed, thought it was a waste of money while Americans were in battle in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I think Moseley was right in wanting airmen to look more military. I’ve watched a tourist in a hotel ask an Air Force colonel for directions, thinking the colonel was a bellhop.

Moseley’s critics didn’t get it. It costs little more to introduce new service dress attire than to continue using the existing uniform. The chief’s proposed change is apparently on hold now, and we are poorer for it.

Also on hold is Moseley’s plan to merge aircraft maintenance into flying squadrons. He wanted crew chiefs and pilots closer to one another, in part because of his sense of Air Force history. Maintenance officers opposed the plan because it intruded on their turf. As with the dress uniform, Moseley was right, and his critics were wrong.

His belief in the need for a new air refueling tanker was heartfelt and powerful.

As service chief, Moseley rightly recused himself from the selection process, but the competition was held on his watch, and I believe the service reached the right decision. The rest is Washington politics and legalistic wrangling.

Critics may argue that Moseley’s reach exceeded his grasp — that he leaves office with too many goals unfulfilled. But in my view, Moseley is a visionary who was right most of the time. Those who follow him will have a high standard to meet.

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The writer, an Air Force veteran, lives in Oakton, Va. He is co-author of “Hell Hawks.” His e-mail address is robert.f.dorr@cox.net.

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