Eye of the Storm - The Epilogue*

"Why my interest?  A number of years before I became the Secretary, during a visit to Israel, I had had a lengthy discussion with a retired Israeli Air Force general who set up a small 'think tank' which he named 'Longbow.' His thesis was that, like the British at Agincourt, we would be well advised to devote R&D funds
to make the individual ground troop (of any variety) as militarily powerful as possible in combat. He would need sensors and weapons and other systems to exploit the remarkable brain that a free man could bring to the fight. Then, the duty of commanders was to devise integrating technologies and systems which permitted these superbly equipped and trained fighting men to operate in concert as a highly integrated team.
His belief was that such fighting teams would be incredibly effective in combat.

'At Agincourt many centuries ago, noblemen and peasants alike witnessed the might of a small group of men who brought death and destruction from above against enemy foot soldiers and armored knights. These dedicated and well-trained men with their Longbows were the key to Henry V’s defeat of the French that day, even though he was greatly outnumbered.

Air Force Special Tactics Combat Controllers are today's Longbow fighters. Individually, they  are specially selected, specially trained, and, in support of special operations, almost daily bring American airpower to bear on our nation’s enemies. Indeed, they are very remarkable warriors,  and this book will help many understand why so many of us hold our Combat Controllers in such incredibly high regard.'

I was convinced that he was right, and once I understood the remarkable talent residing in Special Tactics Combat Control Teams, I recognized that there were such teams in our Air Force. The question, then, was
how to make them even better. I did my best to bring my belief to anyone in the leadership of the U.S.
Air Force who would listen, and in Generals John Jumper and Paul Hester I found kindred spirits. My determination that airmen like (CCT MSgt) Alan Yoshida should have the very best in technology to match
their superlative training and culture drove me, as did my heart-wrenching duty to join John Jumper in presenting two Air Force Crosses to the widows of a Special Tactics Combat Controller and a Pararescueman."

 

Dr. Roche, SecAF.
20th Secretary of the U.S. Air Force
*Excerpt from EOS Epilogue