CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Hello Team Charleston! Hopefully your Thanksgiving was as special as mine. If you are like me, you have spent a couple of extra hours in the fitness center this week working off the deep fried turkey and extra helping of macaroni and cheese you consumed. Let me also add my special thanks to all of you for being such great wingmen. The entire team made it through the long weekend without any major incidents or mishaps; that is phenomenal. Continue to focus on making smart, responsible choices along with being great wingmen. That is definitely a winning recipe.
Congratulations are in order for the 13 Team Charleston NCOs who completed the NCO Professional Enhancement Seminar earlier this week. As with each group, I had the opportunity to spend some time talking with them about leadership in current operating environment. These professional NCOs are more than ready to lead our Airmen into the future. I commend Master Sgt. Tim Kelly, 437th Airlift Wing career assistance advisor, for keeping the seminars fresh and relevant. This group actually took a field trip to the Coast Guard Sector Charleston facilities where they received an indoctrination and tour. I have a feeling they will not soon forget their Total Force briefing.
If you have completed Airmen Leadership School or attended a graduation ceremony you are aware that each class performs some type of community activity project. It is their opportunity to give back to someone in need while showing their appreciation for the tremendous support we receive here in the Lowcountry. Normally I do not have the opportunity to witness firsthand what the classes accomplish however I was fortunate to see Class 07-A in action.
Earlier in the week, Charleston AFB was honored to host 33 fourth-graders from Meminger Elementary School. Their guides and mentors for the day were the students of Class 07-A. The class's community activity committee, comprised of Senior Airman Channon Barton, 437th Maintenance Squadron; Senior Airman James Richardson, 437th Security Forces Squadron; and Senior Airman Baron Myers, 437th Aerial Port Squadron, did a phenomenal job in putting together a fun-filled and educational morning. The students spent time at our Air Park, witnessed a military working dog demonstration and toured our fire station. Afterwards it was back to the ALS building for food and fun. It would take much too long to fill in all the details but I can tell you one thing, the game "Simon Says" is not as easy as it looks and the fourth graders are much better at it than our Airmen. As they departed the base, the smiles on the faces of those 33 young students and the members of Class 07-A were priceless. It was a day they will all remember and cherish for quite some time.
Team Charleston - One family, one mission, one fight!