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"WE MUST KEEP OUR CORE CAPABILITIES"
At the beginning of October, Lieutenant General Rolf Portz succeeded Bernhard Mende as Chief of Staff of the German Air Force. For FLUG REVUE, he outlines the focus of his work.
The fall of the Berlin Wall brought a time of change to the Luftwaffe (German Air Force) which, in its complexity and significance, can doubtlessly be compared to the beginning years of the German forces after the Second World War. The recent years have led to some decicive changes in the structure and mission of the Luftwaffe. This phase of adaptation and change is now mostly completed and the implementation of the government's decisions concerning the structure and the base concept is on schedule. In spite of the definite need for differentiation, the conceptional, organizational, and structural compound of the Luftwaffe is to be maintained. At the same time, we must focus on continuity and, furthermore, enforce planning security and confidence. The Luftwaffe, as a whole, is in a good condition. The German Air Force and its professional mission accomplishment is acknowledged by the public.
In spite of the recent years' decreasing resources, we were able to maintain the core capabilities of the Luftwaffe's defence tasks, both nationally and within the alliance, as well as, adapt to the accomplishment of an expanded task catalogue. The team spirit and motivation of all soldiers and civil employees are the decicive requirements for the successful mission accomplishment and deserve recognition.
The significant improvement of the personnel situation is proof for the good condition and attractiveness of the Luftwaffe. The number of applicants is pleasingly high; the required personnel supplement is secured. The interest in serving in the Air Force continues to increase. The integration of civil vocational training into the military training has had a significant share in this positive development.
Furthermore, our basic capabilities to participate in multi-national crisis reaction missions has been achieved and, will be further developed and expanded. Designated operational forces of the Luftwaffe can be reliably employed in the frame of NATO or UN mandated missions. Operational support and national supply are secured. With putting into service the Special Task Force Battalion, we have reached an important enforcement of the survivability of the operational forces.
For more than two years, the Luftwaffe has proven its effectiveness in the expanded mission spectrum, especially with giving its share to the enforcement of the Dayton peace treaty. Our participation in the international peace forces (IFOR/SFOR) has been acknowledged from all sides.
The Luftwaffe will continue to bear large burdens in the future. It will require much effort from each individual on all levels to enable the Luftwaffe to fulfill its expanded tasks. Facing tight budgets, the multitude of challenges can only be mastered with a clear setting of priorities. The main focus must be to keep the core capabilities of a modern air force. In the short and mid-term, this particularly means:
- to improve the command and control capability of the Luftwaffe,
- to modernize the airborne air defence,
- to improve the capability of the defence of tactical ballistic missiles,
- to establish the precision and stand-off capability of the Tornado fleet,
- and to achieve the urgently required improvements of the Luftwaffe's air transport capability.
Even though the quality of task execution depends to a high degree on the confidence in the efficiency and reliability of the systems and the equipment, it is the trust in the superiors and the fellow soldier which complements the work. It is this trust along with the individual acknowledgment of the mutual dependence that bonds the Luftwaffe into a team.
In this team, a professional soldier is as important as a conscript. Without our conscripts and the reservists the Luftwaffe could not accomplish its tasks. Not only that, both also have an important mission in mediating a positive signal to the public.
The human must always be at the center of attention. This is a priority in my considerations. Leadership is the most important task of the superiors at all levels. The corner stones for a successful mission accomplishment are based on a demanding training and service, leadership and education, along with discipline, self-discipline and the upkeep of personal fitness.
I am convinced that each Luftwaffe individual will continue to work with engagement and spirit in the "Team Luftwaffe" and make sure that this will continue to be the trade mark for the reliability and efficiency of the Luftwaffe.
From page 21 of FLUG REVUE 11/97
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