Air Force Global Strike Command Anniversary Published Aug. 3, 2010 By Lt. Gen. Frank Klotz Commander of Air Force Global Strike Command BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Editor's note: The following is a letter written by the commander to the Airmen of Air Force Global Strike Command. August 7th marks the first anniversary of the stand-up of Air Force Global Strike Command. On that day, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Gen. Norton Schwartz, officially activated our Command, providing a single organization responsible for the oversight of two-thirds of the Nation's nuclear capabilities--the first completely new major command in the Air Force in 27 years. Our Command was founded on the premise that no mission is more important than the responsibility for operating, maintaining, securing and supporting the nuclear enterprise. Over this year it has become clear our mission is important and will endure for many years to come. Now, a year later, we can say that we've begun to make a difference in the Air Force nuclear enterprise, thanks to the impressive work that you have accomplished. Let me just state it clearly up front: any success we have had so far helping to reinvigorate the nuclear enterprise is due almost entirely to the tireless, skilled and dedicated efforts of you, our Airmen--active-duty, Guard, Reserves, civilians and contractors. As we move step-by-step toward Full Operational Capability, we remain focused on our original mission: to reinvigorate and continue to strengthen the nuclear enterprise. Still ahead, we have the opportunity to recapture our heritage, to raise the bar of performance and to ensure nuclear deterrence forces are effectively maintained and sustained. We will make sure the nuclear enterprise is appropriately trained and manned. We will aggressively improve the infrastructure and services at our bases and in our missile fields. These are opportunities we willingly and eagerly accept as we build a model command, comprising elite and highly disciplined Airmen. As we continue to strengthen the nuclear enterprise and standup this Command, we continue to support today's fight with nearly 1,200 Global Strike Airmen deployed worldwide. We are proud of their service, and the service of those who will deploy in the months ahead. And, we cannot forget the real sacrifices of our Air Force families, who persevere through deployments, alerts and long hours--demonstrating the same "Service Before Self" values we ask of our Airmen. We will continue to build on this year's momentum and step into our second year with the vitality, urgency and deliberate speed that will allow us to continue to focus our Command on our Nation's strategic deterrence and global strike capabilities. With every sortie, every alert, every dispatch and every post, you set the conditions that help deter potential adversaries and assure our allies and friends around the world. You are doing your jobs extraordinarily well, and I can relay to you that the Nation's senior leadership is very proud of you.