JOE FOSS FIELD, S.D. - Lt. Gen. L. Scott Rice, Director of the Air National Guard, met with Airmen from the 114th Fighter Wing about current issues and the direction of the ANG during a Sunday visit to the unit at Joe Foss Field, South Dakota.
"My goal as the director is to visit all 90 Wings in my four-year tour of duty," said Rice. "My job is to train, organize and equip the force to generate combat capability for the president, our nation, and the Department of Defense."
As the Air National Guard Director, Rice is responsible for formulating, developing and coordinating all policies, plans, and programs affecting the more than 105,500 Guard members and civilians in 90 flying wings and 175 geographically separated units across 213 locations throughout the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands.
Rice said when you look at the ANG as an enterprise, you find our members are in every community and in every location across the country and are an integral part of what it means to be an American.
"It's pretty exciting to see our communities embrace the Guard like they do here in Sioux Falls and that is a strength in who we are as an (ANG)," said Rice. "We're very experienced, we're very local, and we're very committed to those things we hold dear; our families, our future, our security, and our jobs. That's what the Air National Guard is."
Rice held a town-hall style meeting with officers from the unit to discuss his three focus areas: 21st century Guard Airmen, Recapitalization/Modernization of our forces, and readiness across the 54 (states and territories). He also toured the base facilities and met with Airmen throughout the offices and shops on base.
"I come to this unit, one of the most exceptional units we have across our whole agency, and see all of the good things that go on here and look them in the eye and say 'thank you', to all the members, to Sioux Falls, to South Dakota, to the Governor of South Dakota, and to our elected leaders who support the ANG, 'thank you,' now what can I do to help you?" said Rice.