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As we celebrate the Holiday Season, I would be remiss
if I didn’t thank each of you for your outstanding service
throughout 2011. You are the catalyst that keeps AFSA moving
forward and are commended for the time and sacrifice you make to our
members and our great institution. This year we celebrated our
50th Anniversary and took time to relish in some of our
achievements. However, with the country’s debt higher than
it’s ever been, we can expect an all out attack on our benefits
and entitlements. This is where YOU come in. For us to
succeed, you have to call and write your members of congress on issues
that negatively affect you and our Air Force.
AFSA AND OUR AIR FORCE
Our Air Force will see significant reductions in the
annual budget over the next 10 years and will be looking for ways to
make ends meet. We, as members of AFSA and current and former
members of our great Air Force, need to help our Air Force find ways to
get through these difficult times. That doesn’t mean we give
up on our benefits we worked so hard to achieve, but it may mean that we
don’t ask for the kitchen sink when all we need is a glass of
water.
The enlisted corps has always been the backbone of
the Air Force. Our Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton
Schwartz cares about each of us and is concerned for our welfare as well
as the Air Forces’. The saying “People
First…Mission Always” is not just a motto, but a way of life
for all of us. We have always cared about the mission. In
fact, during my 30 years of service, I never once thought the mission
wouldn’t get done. Why…because we had our enlisted
corps making sure we didn’t let anyone down.
That level of dedication is needed now more than ever
to keep AFSA and our Air Force successful. I know you won’t
let me or Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Jim Roy down.
Three of AFSA ten objectives talked to assisting our Air Force.
They are:
- To maintain a superior Air Force for our beloved country;
- To devote ourselves to our fellow Airmen; and
- To loyally serve the nation and Air Force and to do all necessary to
uphold and defend the constitution of the United
States.
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We have all made sacrifices for our country whether
it was working long hours, missing key family events, deployments,
remote assignments, family separation and more. The saying
“All gave some…some gave all” is not just a phrase,
but for many it bleeds true. While it’s difficult for me to
ask you to sacrifice more, our AFSA objectives tell us we should do all
we can to assist! In doing so, our Air Force leaders need us to
look for new and innovative ways to cut costs without sacrificing
quality, safety or mission.
Your AFSA will be working on our annual budget and
looking for ways to trim costs while still serving our membership.
It will be tough, but I expect our HQ Staff and our Budget Committee
will find ways to balance the budget as we have done the past two
years.
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Looking ahead, an early Happy New Year to all
and best wishes for a bright 2012!
The New Year will bring significant changes to AFSA.
Starting on 1 Jan. our Auxiliary International Council and all auxiliary
chapters will deactivate and its members will merge with AFSA chapters
and become one. AFSA will be governed by one international council
vice the current two.
In addition, AFSA will start transitioning from 13
divisions to seven. Many divisions will come together to a
combined Division Convention to elect new leaders who will take the
reins of the new Divisions on 1 Jan 2013. The transition to the
reduced number of divisions is a direct result of decisions made by your
International Council this past year.
Thanks again to all of you for volunteering your time
and effort and most importantly thank you for allowing me to serve as
your President!
Jeffrey E. Ledoux
CMSgt, USAF Retired
AFSA International President
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