Air Force Surgeon General Visits Raider Country

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Nicolas Z. Erwin
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  Lt. Gen. Dorothy Hogg, the Air Force Surgeon General, visited Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, Jan. 30.

The Air Force Surgeon General is responsible for developing plans, programs and procedures in support of worldwide Air Force operations, as well as giving direction, guidance and providing technical management of a 44,000-person integrated healthcare delivery and readiness system that services 2.6 million people.

Accompanying Hogg was Chief Master Sgt. George Cum, the Air Force medical enlisted force chief; the Air Force Global Strike Command Surgeon Col. Virginia Garner; and Chief Master Sgt. Jennifer Allison, the AFGSC medical enlisted force chief.

During an all call for the 28th Medical Group, Cum described the impact that training has for the entire Air Force. He described the effect of having hands-on training for realistic scenarios to not only prep for today, but also for the future.

“If we aren’t ready for today’s fight, we won’t be ready for tomorrow’s,” Cum said.

Her visit was focused on understanding the critical role the 28th MDG has in U.S. combat airpower operations. Another key area of this visit was to engage with Airmen to hear the challenges Air Force medics are facing and to learn what could be implemented to support them better in their jobs.

“Readiness has always been, and will continue to be our number one priority,” the surgeon general explained. “Ensuring that we are fully supporting line commander’s demands and providing mission support anywhere in the world will continue to be a priority for the Air Force Medical Service and the Air Force as a whole.”

During their visit, they were introduced the base medical facilities, toured a B-1B Lancer and simulator and, most importantly, met with Airmen.

“I encourage Airmen to push forward to shape our Air Force medical Service future,” Hogg said. “If we don’t, others will.”