New commander discusses goal

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Eric Summers
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
For Lt. Gen. Edward Rice, Jr. the new commander of U.S. Forces Japan and 5th Air Force, the command he now leads is very important to Asia-Pacific security.

"This is a tremendously important command," General Rice said. "What we do here is tremendously important, not just for the defense of Japan, but for the defense of the region, peace, prosperity and for our national security."

As commander of U. S. Forces, Japan, Lt. Gen. Edward Rice Jr. says he has many goals to accomplish during his tour here.

"One of my goals is implementing the Defense Posture Review Initiative and the transformation of our alliance and keeping that on track," said General Rice.

Lieutenant Gen. Rice's other goal is to ensure service members are ready at any time to accomplish their operational missions.

"We've got a set of operational responsibilities here that not only involve U.S. forces but are bilaterally tied with the Japanese," he said. "We've got to make sure that we understand very clearly what those obligations are and that we're proficient and ready to execute any missions that we might be able to do."

Maintaining a commitment to unwavering professionalism is a third goal for Lt. Gen. Rice.

Unwavering professionalism is important for what U.S. service members do here individually and collectively, and to the nation's relationship with Japan, according to Lt. Gen. Rice.

"I will continue to emphasize unwavering professionalism on the part of each and every servicemember of the U.S. that is here," he said.

Having a good experience here is the general's fourth goal.

"I would say it's important that our members and families have a good working, professional, personal experience while they're here," he said. "So, I am making this the very best experience for our members and their families as we possibly can."

According to Lt. Gen. Rice, there are many ways junior service members can help promote better community relations with their Japanese hosts.

"When you're out with your friends and you see someone who might not be living up to our high standards or expectations, you should not sit there and watch it happen, but be an active participant in preventing it from happening," General Rice said.

General Rice said servicemembers need to take care of each other because what one person does can affect everyone else. 

Lt. Gen. Rice said he is looking forward to meeting the airmen, Marines, sailors, soldiers and military civilians throughout U.S. Forces Japan and 5th Air Force.

"My wife and I are very excited to be here among members of all the services and look forward to getting out as quickly as possible to all of the places people live and work to get to know and understand the issues they're working," he said.