CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
The commander of Air Mobility Command and the AMC Command Chief visited Charleston AFB Nov. 8 to Nov. 9 to meet the Airmen of the premier C-17 Airlift Wing.
Team Charleston welcomed AMC commander Gen. Arthur Lichte and AMC Command Chief Master Sgt. Joe Barron during their two-day visit to the base where they met Airmen from both the 437th and 315th Airlift Wings, visited our organizations to see how we conduct business and met with as many Team Charleston members as possible.
General Lichte said he was impressed with everything he saw during his visit to Charleston AFB but the Airmen of Team Charleston impressed him the most.
"Charleston's Airmen are the true warriors in the Global War on Terror -- they are absolutely dedicated to the principles which make our country free," said General Lichte. "Our Airmen are doing amazing things every day and I thank them and their families for the hard work and the daily personal sacrifices they make in order to serve our nation."
In addition, an officer assigned to the 437th Security Forces Squadron had the honor of having his Bronze Star presented to him by General Lichte.
Capt. Dana Metzger was presented the Bronze Star for his performance as the commandant of the Iraqi corrections officer academy and theater internment facility compound commander while at Camp Bucca, Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
"General Lichte is a people-oriented leader who always places his Airmen first," said Captain Metzger. "He thanked me for what I did and for my service to my country and it was truly an honor to have my Bronze Star presented by him."
During his visit, General Lichte discussed the importance of Charleston AFB and the Global War on Terrorism.
"Since October 2001, military and contract airlift have delivered more than 2.5 million tons of cargo to Iraq and Afghanistan and Charleston C-17 crews have made a huge contribution to that effort," said General Lichte. "The C-17 aircraft provides the flexibility and the versatile airlift capability to the warfighter not found on any other weapon system."
General Lichte also had the opportunity to meet with many of Team Charleston's 31 honorary commander plus several members of the advisory council during an evening reception at the Charleston Club. The Honorary Commanders Program and the Advisory Council were designed to foster support between the base and local communities.
General Lichte said he was pleased to meet the newly selected honorary commanders and community leaders and that it is good to have folks who are truly interested in the welfare of the men and women of Charleston AFB.
"It was a pleasure to meet such a great group of people from the local community," said General Lichte. "The relationship that Charleston Air Force Base has with its community leaders is nothing more than truly remarkable."
During his visit, General Lichte also discussed his priorities for AMC.
"Our main priorities in AMC are fighting and winning the Global War on Terror, developing and caring for our Airmen, and recapitalizing and modernizing our Air Force," said General Lichte. "As we continue to assist in the rapid movement of Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles to the U.S. Central Command and to support maneuvering units to the last tactical mile we must also remember that we must take care of our Airmen for they and their families are our most important assets."
As General Lichte prepared to depart from Charleston AFB, he expressed how he had a wonderful time visiting the men and women of Charleston AFB and for being able to see them at work.
Upon assuming command of AMC on Sept. 7, General Lichte said that his plan for next the next few months was to visit all the AMC bases and to see the Airmen who make up AMC.
AMC's mission is to provide rapid, global mobility and sustainment for America's armed forces. AMC plays a crucial role in providing humanitarian support at home and around the world. The men and women of AMC -- active duty, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve and civilians -- provide airlift, aerial refueling and special air mission and aeromedical evacuation for all of America's armed forces.