BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The Director of the Air National Guard, Lt. Gen. L. Scott Rice, visited the 117th Air Refueling Wing on Tuesday afternoon.
Rice was accompanied by Brig. Gen. Steven S. Nordhaus, the Commander of the Air National Guard Readiness Center, and the Air National Guard Command Chief Master Sgt. Ronald C. Anderson.
He was greeted by Col. Cliff James, the 117 ARW Commander, and Col. Scott Grant, the 117 ARW Vice Commander. After a tour of the base and a briefing by wing leaders, Rice spoke to unit members. He talked about his fascination with the intelligence world and how he came to the 117th many years ago to spend time learning about the career field working, living and breathing alongside Col. Self.
“I don’t know if anyone knows him, but that guy is for me personally, my hero. He has brought me to open my aperture and say we have a lot of airmen in the Air Force that do the pointy end of business and has nothing to do with flying,” said Rice.
Rice talked about why he stays in the Air National Guard.
“Why am I here? Why do I like this so much? Why do I like this calling to serve so much? …the people that would do anything for our country, our friends, our neighbors and our family. I would imagine that if the circumstances are right, in the right place at the right time, you would probably risk your life with the pursuit of helping those sitting to the left and to the right of you and you don’t find that anywhere in the world. That’s why I serve,” said Rice.
His first priority for the Air National Guard is mission readiness. His second priority is people and how they are treated. His third priority is getting the best equipment modernized and the best equipment recapitalized that he can.
“I will sure set you on a pathway that will have you serving, your kids serving and potentially even your grandkids serving in relatively the same missions you’re in now.”
Airmen of the 117th Air Refueling Wing, Birmingham, Alabama listen as Lt. Gen. L. Scott Rice, Director, Air National Guard, and Chief Master Sergeant Ronald C. Anderson, Command Chief for the Air National Guard speak during a visit to Sumpter Smith Air National Guard Base October 3, 2017. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by: Senior Master Sgt. Ken Johnson)