New SECAF visits Pope, takes a fall

Released: 26 Aug 1999

by Capt. Susan Idziak
43rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. (AFPN) -- Freefalling from 8,000 feet falls under the caption "other duties as required," on Whit Peters' job description.

The new Air Force secretary completed that duty here Aug. 20 during one of his first official trips since being confirmed Aug. 3.

The day started at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., when an MC-130 Talon flew out of Pope Air Force Base, N.C., to take Peters to the Luzon Drop Zone on Fort Bragg, N.C., where he made an 8,000-foot tandem freefall jump with Tech. Sgt. Gregg Pittman of the 24th Special Tactics Squadron.

"It was great," Peters said once safely on the ground. "But now my numbers of landings and takeoffs don't match anymore!"

The secretary spent the rest of the day with combat controllers and pararescuemen of the 21st and 24th STS and students of the Combat Control School.

"I came here to spend time with the special operators," Peters said. "I really wanted to see what the combat controllers and pararescuers do -- and hear their concerns firsthand."

One of their major concerns is high operations tempo, he said. The small Air Force specialty is one of the most tasked and demanding, and is currently only 70 percent to 80 percent manned.

The secretary's day included a Special Tactics and Rescue parachute demonstration jump at Pope Park and a press conference with media about his visit to Pope.

When asked by Air Force Television News reporter Staff Sgt. Dean Padgett if his tandem jump was "a result of a mid-life crisis," Peters, 53, replied jokingly, "The job of being secretary of the Air Force is my mid-life crisis. But I have lots of family support."

About his jump he added, "It was fascinating. I think I'd like to do it again. But I'm first going to reread the insurance papers."

While at Pope, the secretary officiated a ceremony dedicating one of the base's newly renovated dorms to be shared by combat controllers and 23rd Fighter Group enlisted members. The dorm is named Scholl Manor in honor of Tech. Sgt. Mark Scholl, who, while assigned to the 24th STS at Pope as a combat controller, gave his life in service to his country during a United States Special Operations Command training exercise in 1992. Scholl was 33 years old when he died.

"In his short life Sergeant Scholl epitomized the standard of service before self and consistently placed the welfare of his fellow man before himself," said Peters at the ceremony. "The debt of gratitude we owe for his sacrifice is immense, and today we have an opportunity to immortalize his contribution with the dedication of this important building."

Back to Articles