LAYTON -- Employing her military trained voice to full advantage, Air Force Col. Sharon Dunbar didn't need a microphone to address guests at the Northern Utah Business and Economic Summit Friday.Of course, with the topic being Hill Air Force Base and its future, those attending were 'all ears' anyway. Speaking in the main auditorium at Weber State University's Davis Campus, Dunbar offered an update of what is going on at Hill.

At present, she reported, a total of 1,000 Air Force personnel from HAFB are deployed to Iraq. And Dunbar implored members of the audience "to keep them in your thoughts and prayers."

Recent deployments like this have involved a far greater "ground" presence, she explained. Air Force personnel are now working with members of the other services in roles that, traditionally, they had not been asked to perform.

"Typically, the focus of our efforts has been to make sure pilots can do their job, pickling [dropping] the bombs on target," she said. "Now our men and women are on the ground alongside our other forces."

This has required new training programs, everything from emergency medical procedures to evasive ground tactics.

Back at the base, several new "wings" have been added to Hill's complement, which already included the Air Logistic Wing, the 388th Fighter Wing and the 419th Reserve Fighter Wing. Now there are four more wings for a healthy total of seven.

But no discussion of Hill Air Force Base these days would be complete without mention of the BRAC, Base Realignment and Closure Commission.

"The nomination of James Hansen to that commission was pleasantly received," Dunbar commented.

Under the BRAC, she explained, all of the country's military services are involved and "everything is on the table."

"I hope that all of you will continue to bolster Hill Air Force Base," she continued. "The support of the community for the unique missions that we perform at Hill is key. But, I can't make any predictions at this point."

bmickelson@davisclipper.com