JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
There's an old saying, "time flies when you're having fun!" The last two years as the Command Chief Master Sergeant for the mighty 437th Airlift Wing and working with all of Team Charleston was a blast.
As Debbie and I prepare to depart Charleston, we are filled with admiration for the men and women who answer the call every day, always rising to meet every challenge head-on. You responded without hesitation to the call for help from Haiti's earthquake victims, surge operations for the Afghanistan offensive, flood relief for Pakistan, the flow of Mine Resistant All Terrain Vehicles to front line forces by air, compliance inspections, a multitude of Distinguished Visitors, the Air Show, and yes, we did also have three inches of snow that closed the runway!
In the midst of these challenges, you also answered the call from the Base Realignment Commission to stand up the 628th Air Base Wing and Joint Base Charleston, working through the emotional, logistical and chain of command confusion to make it a reality. Let us also not forget that you are on the eve of a major joint Operational Readiness Inspection after months of tedious preparation. From the track record of what has been accomplished in the past two years, I am confident that you will do well on the ORI!
Answering the call takes teamwork. I am proud to have had the privilege of working with incredible team players, selfless professionals who recognize that as Air Mobility Command Airmen, we answer the call of others so that they may prevail. Our Charleston Airmen are among the best in our Air Force and certainly our 437 AW aircrews, crew support, maintainers and port dogs lead the command though innovation and proven excellence. Leaders such as Senior Master Sgt. Kevin Kloeppel and Master Sgt. Jadirra Walls from the Operations Group and Master Sgts. Jeramie Banks and Andre Mackie from the Maintenance Group are role models who emulate our core values.
These incredible accomplishments are only possible because of the total force effort from our civilian workforce, 315th Airlift Wing reservists, low country community and especially the world-class installation support provided by our 628th Air Base Wing mission partners. Joint basing is a very difficult and taxing arrangement that consumes enormous amounts of energy to build, maintain and preserve relationships. I am happy to note that the team spirit at Joint Base Charleston remains strong and will continue to endure. In two years we have moved from what appeared to be total chaos to a more organized and responsive Joint Base community forging the way ahead. It is tough work.
As I bid farewell and head up north to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst as Command Chief for the 87th ABW, I am taking many positive lessons learned and fully energized from working with such a professional Charleston team. Debbie and I have made great friends here, shared memorable occasions with many of you and especially enjoyed being with our highly motivated junior Airmen who never ceased to amaze us with commitment, intelligence and raw zeal. You have all made our tour at Charleston one of the most memorable assignments in our career and look forward to hearing of the continued success of Team Charleston.