JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas -- Maj. Gen. (Dr.) Josef Schmid III, individual mobilization assistant to the surgeon general of the Air Force, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, Washington, D.C., visited with 433rd Airlift Wing senior leaders and 433rd Medical Group members Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland Nov. 2.
The general, who was assigned to two squadrons in the Alamo Wing medical group from 2000 to 2007, met with Reserve Citizen Airmen from several organizations within the group while touring the group’s new facility.
“It’s nice to come back home,” Schmid said. “I’m here coming back to the 433rd as an assistant, but this is where I grew up. I came back to see how life is for the Reservists.”
Schmid emphasized the importance of medical personnel in maintaining combat ready forces.
“Everything is based on readiness as surgeon general of the Air Force and the 433rd is the backbone for readiness when it comes to the total force,” Schmid said. “I’m here to check the pulse of the 433rd to see how it’s doing, and it's doing fantastic. They are very much ready as they support the readiness of the wing as well for everything downrange.
“It will be my pleasure to tell the Surgeon General of the Air Force, Lt. Gen. Dorothy Hogg, as well as the Air Force Reserve Command Surgeon General, Col. Teresa Bisnett, that the 433rd is not only doing well, but doing exceptionally well. And I think it should be the model of how we are doing things when it comes to new buildings, new innovation, and doing more with less.
“I always say the 433rd is one of the most innovative squadrons and groups across the command because they’re coming with potential solutions that can apply across the reserves as well as active duty.”