CSAF, CMSAF visit Laughlin AFB

Published July 10, 2024
47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs

LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) --

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin, his spouse, Gina Allvin, and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force David Flosi visited Laughlin Air Force Base, July 8. The tour focused on topics including border security, remote and isolated contiguous United States installations, training, the arrival of the T-7A Redhawk, and quality of life at Laughlin AFB.

Allvin and Flosi met with Airmen from the 47th Security Forces Squadron to talk about border security, mitigation efforts and their partnership with the Val Verde County Sheriff Department and U.S. Border Patrol. The team received a demonstration of the squadron’s hoverfly drone.

During their tour of Laughlin, participants had the opportunity to engage with a diverse group of personnel, including those from security forces, civil engineering, maintenance, pilot training, key spouses and more. — Daniel Rubio, 47th Civil Engineering Squadron project manager, showcases the Rick’s Hall dormitory construction project to Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force David A. Flosi during a tour of Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, July 8, 2024. The Air Force Civil Engineer Center has funded a $35.3 million project aimed at enhancing the base. This investment will provide Airmen with comfortable living spaces, contributing to their overall well-being and improved performance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Keira Rossman)

At the 47th Medical Group, Allvin and Flosi discussed Laughlin AFB’s medical referral programs, the impact of the Exceptional Family Member Program and training hours for medical Airmen, specifically showcasing the medical training mannequin used in the Operational Medicine Clinic.

Allvin and Flosi received updates on the Air Force Repair Enhancement Program projects at Laughlin AFB, T-1 divestment efforts, and projects preparing for the arrival of the T-7A Red Hawk at the 47th Maintenance Directorate.

In a flight room in the 434th Flying Training Squadron, the senior leaders received a brief on the successes and struggles of the Undergraduate Pilot Training curriculum. They learned how student squadrons keep up with pilot production and sortie numbers while facing challenges such as weather, manpower and daylight hours. Currently, Laughlin AFB has produced 242 pilots out of the 375 this fiscal year.

Allvin and Flosi received a tour of the 47th Operations Group, which is comprised of: the 47th Student Squadron, 85th FTS, 434th FTS, 86th FTS, 87th FTS, and the 47th Operations Support Squadron.

Allvin also spoke at an all-call for Airmen across the wing.

At the all-call, Allvin spoke about reoptimizing our forces for Great Power Competition through the core concepts of projecting power, developing people, generating readiness and developing capabilities. He also talked about the future of the Air Force under Agile Combat Employment.

“Great power [comes from] people and resources,” Allvin said. “We need to get back to being one Air Force. We cannot afford to act in a slow way. We must be agile.”

Allvin and Flosi conducted a question-and-answer session following the all-call.

“[We are] working on ways to develop Airmen for the deployable environment,” Flosi said, when asked about how the Air Force will operate under the AFFORGEN concept.

Both CSAF and CMSAF focused on the importance of Airmen operating outside of their technical expertise and being mission ready in the rapidly changing defense environment. “It is time to adapt. It is time to change,” Allvin concluded.

Mrs. Allvin also got a tour of the base where she attended briefings at the Military Family Readiness Center, Child and Youth Programs and base housing, learning about quality-of-life improvements and remaining challenges at Laughlin AFB as a remote and isolated base.

Throughout the visit, outstanding performers from Laughlin AFB were recognized and coined for their contributions to the base and mission at the 47th FTW.