Two-star general, Goldsboro native, visits 4th FW

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Shane Dunaway
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Maj. Gen. William Holland, 9th Air Force vice commander, visited the 4th Fighter Wing to get a first-hand look at the wing's mission capabilities January 29.

A Goldsboro, N.C., native, General Holland attended high school at Charles B. Aycock High School, but he really wasn't familiar with the Air Force until close to graduation.

"I wanted to go to college," General Holland said. "I talked to my counselor in high school and she told me about a Reserve Officer Training Corps scholarship, a four-year free ride. That's how I became associated with the Air Force."

He took the opportunity to attend East Carolina University, but back in the early 1970s during the Vietnam War era, people had a slightly different view of the military.

"I walked down the campus of ECU in an ROTC uniform and people spit at me," General Holland said. "Our citizenry is more educated about the military today than they were back when I first joined the Air Force. The Global War on Terror has hit home and people have taken it upon themselves to understand more about the military."

During his visit, General Holland took time to talk to Airmen about the advancement of technology the military has made during his time in service.

"You walk into an Air Operations Center, and you can tell how old somebody is by how many computer screens they have in front of them," General Holland said. "An old guy like me, I can barely handle one, but these young Intelligence Airmen have eight screens monitoring eight different things and half of those screens are divided. It really is amazing."

Though today's Airmen are becoming more proficient and efficient, the general addressed a hot Air Force topic - recapitalization.

"We're still using some of the same infrastructure and the same aircraft that we were using back when I put on the ROTC uniform," General Holland said. "That's difficult because as you know, infrastructure deteriorates over time. If you don't replace it, the people who have to use it are tasked to keep that infrastructure up more than they are to do their job. That's a significant challenge we're going to face."

Despite the aging of the Air Force inventory, General Holland doesn't take any credit away from the wing's accomplishments.

"You cannot help but be proud of this wing," General Holland said. "It has a great legacy, but it also has a great future and a great present."

General Holland's visit was a prime opportunity for the Airmen of the 4th Fighter Wing to show the 9th Air Force vice commander what it means to be, "Fourth, But First."

"Having an Air Force senior leader who is one of Goldsboro's native sons 'come home' and visit our base, to view our mission capabilities was a privilege," said Col. Steve Kwast, 4th FW commander. "Our 4th FW Warriors are the consummate professional Airmen who continually look to serve senior leaders with their ability to provide airpower, on-target, on-time, for America."