Air Force Leader: Nation Must Address Tough Questions about the Military

Gen. Larry O. Spencer, vice chief of staff of the Air Force, told SA to DC participants that
sequestration and the government shutdown made 2013 a challenging year for the military.  And while a budget agreement has addressed those problems for the short term, there is still great uncertainty in the military community about what will happen in 2016 and beyond.  That uncertainty, he said, is "pretty tough on our airmen."

Spencer said the Air Force and other branches are planning for reductions.  "Regardless of how a budget is settled, the Air Force and military will be smaller in the future."  In some respects, this is not unlike the peace dividends reaped following military build-ups in World War II, Vietnam and the Cold War.  What differs with the expected cutbacks following the build-ups for Afghanistan and Iraq, he noted, is that the nation's enemies haven't yet been vanquished, and new adversaries are emerging on the horizon.

Americans need to have a serious conversation about the size of military and capabilities they want and about national defense needs, Spencer advised.  "How much military do the American people want?  How much of GDP do they want to spend?"

Spencer, who went through basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, gave special thanks to the San Antonio community's embrace of the military.  "If we could clone a community to replicate across the military, it would be San Antonio."

Spencer also made a special plea for recognizing and addressing the needs of military personnel with wounds that aren't necessarily visible, including PTSD.  He referred to his own father, an Army veteran who was gravely injured in Korea, and failed to seek help until he was 80 years old -- two years before his death.

Israel Ambassador Reaffirms Ties with US

Michael Oren, Israel's ambassador to the United States, described the religious and historical roots of the complex and enduring Israeli-American relationship.  Military cooperation, shared economic growth in high-tech innovation and a common interest in environmental protection have augmented that relationship and play an important role in exchanges between San Antonio and Israel.  Mayor Castro,for instance, signed a memorandum of understanding in 2011 with an Israeli company for cooperation on recycled water:
http://www.jpost.com/NationalNews/Article.aspx?id=229499

Oren also mentioned Lyndon B. Johnson's reference to Israel as "America's Alamo in the Middle East," a reference that Israelis appreciate as a high honor, but one that — given the fate of the defenders — they don't particularly care to emulate.

The dinner was sponsored by BCFS Health and Human Services and is a highlight of the trip.

Watch the discussion with the Castros

 CLICK HERE

National Journal editor calls Castro brothers the 'future of politics.'

At the opening session of SA to DC 2013, National Journal editor Ron Fournier said Mayor Julian Castro and Rep. Joaquin Castro represent the future of American politics. "The two gentlemen from your state are the two rising stars in politics." Fournier said that a time of extreme cynicism in politics, the willingness of individuals to come to Washington to serve as advocates, such as with SA to DC, provides a ray of hope for political pragmatism.
 

Military Priorities

The Chamber's SA to DC trip began to address military issues when it began 32 years ago. This year, another large delegation returns to be sure that our ongoing status of "Military City USA" is retained and strengthened.

The 2010 priorities for this year's military delegation is led by David Spencer (Managing General Partner, Texas Intrepid Ventures).

The delegation will communicate our desire to bring the F-35 flight training mission to the 149th Fighter Wing at Lackland Air Force Base. The group will also ask for increased funding for two programs that can address encroachment at Camp Bullis, the Army Compatible Use Buffering Program and for the Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative.

Additionally, we will share our support for continued funding for Lackland Ambulatory Care Center (MILCON) and request an earmark of $5 million to assist with transferring facilities at Brooks City-Base from a chiller plant system to energy-efficient utility systems.