JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Maintaining a clear focus is important. This is especially true today as we merge our Air Force Base with the Naval Weapons Station under one installation command, as the opportunity is present to lose the larger site picture as we wrangle with the myriad of details inherent in bringing two distinct organizations together. Fortunately, though, we have exceptional Airmen here at Charleston who are up to the challenge.

Take for example some of the individuals I had a chance to meet in February at the medical operations and medical support squadrons. From Senior Airman Lyndsay Przybyl in Public Health, to Mr. Willis Killen at the Health and Wellness Center, to Staff Sgt. Crystal Lovelace at Mental Health, each was clearly focused on ensuring the physical and mental wellness of our warfighters and their families, and proudly represented the hundreds of others in their organizations dedicated to the same.

It's not just our active duty and civilian employees either, as the Team Charleston Spouses' Club conducted their first major event raising thousands for one of their focus areas ... supporting educational grants for spouses. All of these Joint Team Charleston members are dedicated to supporting the mission and those who execute it every day.

People like Senior Airman David Wright, 628th Communications Squadron, who not only support the base when he is at home station, but who is now supporting the fight directly in Afghanistan. He puts a name with the term "warfighter" and as such, I would like to leave off by relaying an e-mail he sent in February, as he clearly has his own focus squarely in place:

"Hey everyone, I just wanted to let you guys know that I have made it to my outpost safe and sound. I came in the middle of the night on a Chinook Helicopter and it was pretty intense. Not only are they incredibly loud but the landing pad here is extremely small and I had to be careful not to get blown off the mountain.

No kidding, this place is pretty tiny and high up on a mountain top overlooking two valleys and several villages ... there isn't much here in the terms of luxuries. There is no running water and the latrine is just an outhouse with a plastic bag. Since I have been here we have taken small arms fire at least three times. None of it seems particularly well aimed and they always seem to run as soon as we return fire. I guess they are just testing us.

My first day here I was trained on the "Ma Deuce," a .50 caliber machine gun ... If they try anything like they did when this place was overrun last May they will suffer a huge amount of casualties.

For those of you who don't know, my job is maintaining the satellite communications in this place, mainly phone and internet. I take a great sense of pride in doing my job since it is critical for us to maintain communication with the outside world. Not only do I get to help these guys out, I also get represent the Air Force in a positive light and let the Army know that we are here too. I know that despite the hardships and danger, this will be a positive experience for me, it certainly does give me a sense that I am truly serving my country."