JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
"Individual commitment to a group effort - that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work."
- Vince Lombardi
On the eve of Super Bowl weekend, what individual could provide a more poignant perspective regarding commitment, teamwork and success than the greatest football coach of all time and the namesake of the Super Bowl Championship Trophy, Vince Lombardi. In his nine years as the head coach of the Green Bay Packers, the Hall of Famer led his team to five championships to include Super Bowls I and II. With this in mind, we should take his words to heart as Team Charleston strives to demonstrate America's resolve each and every day.
While the New York Giants and the New England Patriots prepare for the final game of their respective seasons, I'd argue that Team Charleston has been operating at a post-season pace and at Super Bowl-level for the 3,798 days since Sept. 11, 2001. From flying the first night combat mission into Afghanistan in 2001, to delivering humanitarian assistance to earthquake ravaged Haiti in 2010, it is the individual commitment of our Airmen that has ensured our unequalled success, or in Coach Lombardi's words, it is what makes our team work.
Within the recently released "Priorities for 21st Century Defense," President Obama highlights that "our Nation is at a moment of transition." Our role in Iraq has significantly diminished and we continue to make progress in Afghanistan, yet numerous challenges still face our nation. Also within the strategic guidance, the Secretary of Defense clearly articulates the primary missions of the U.S. Armed Forces. I'd encourage all Airmen to read and digest the 10 outlined mission sets, as both the C-17 and Team Charleston will likely play a role in the success of each one of these integral missions. Whether supporting ongoing operations or building partnership capacity, our collective mission focus and the committed resolve of Team Charleston must never waiver.
As we look to the future, the 437th Airlift Wing's mission remains to safely provide precise, reliable airlift worldwide. What is your individual role within and commitment toward that crucial mission? I'd ask that you find and embrace your connection to that mission. It doesn't matter whether you wear the 437th AW, 315th AW or the 628th Air Base Wing patch. Our ability to deliver combat capability and hope throughout the world is only possible with a total team effort. In the end, we all support the C-17 mission; whether servicing, generating, loading or providing crews to operate the aircraft, we all contribute to the goal of demonstrating America's resolve through air mobility.
No matter who you root for this weekend, remember Charleston forms a Super Bowl-caliber team each and every day. We continually answer the call, whether delivering combat power to the combatant commanders or humanitarian assistance to ravaged countries. Thank you for your individual commitment to our worldwide airlift mission. As Coach Lombardi points out, this is what makes our Team work.