JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
Team Charleston Is Ready! It is indeed our honor to welcome Col. Robert Straw and the Air Mobility Command Logistics Compliance Assessment Program Inspection Team to Joint Base Charleston as they embark aon ensuring our logistics personnel and activities are 100 percent compliant. The LCAP team will thoroughly inspect the 437th Aerial Port Squadron, 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 437th Maintenance Operations Squadron, 437th Maintenance Squadron and 628th Logistics Readiness Squadron from Feb. 2 through Feb. 11. We are excited, motivated and glad to host this inspection team and show them our professionalism, dedication and compliance.
Team Charleston has a stellar reputation with numerous outstanding accomplishments. The 628 LRS was recently identified as Air Mobility Command's Maj. Gen. Warren R. Carter Logistics Readiness Daedalian Award winner for 2010. Additionally, the 437th and 315th Maintenance Groups have attained remarkable success as back-to-back winners of the 2008 and 2009 AMC Daedalian Weapon System Maintenance trophy as well as the best maintenance group in the Air Force for 2008. Most recently, the 437th Airlift Wing was recognized with the Meritorious Unit Award and Team Charleston recently claimed two of AMC's Lt. Gen. Leo Marquez award winners for 2010 - Maj. Jeffrey Darden, Field Grade Officer winner, and John Brautigam, Munitions Maintenance Civilian Technician winner. Though all are certainly remarkable achievements, no professional rests on such laurels, rather, all must resolve to continue to pursue even higher excellence - especially in the realm of compliance.
Compliance is neither a buzzword, nor a program, rather it is a mindset, a manifestation of personal integrity required to be exhibited by all Airmen each and every day. Our Air Force's core values guide us to be compliant in all things - both big and small. As we prepare for our LCAP inspection, and the rest of our challenges that will follow in 2011 - to include an Operational Readiness Inspection--it is readily apparent that we must continuously focus our efforts on safe operations, technical order compliance and self discipline.
As I think about our LCAP inspection and its importance, I'm reminded of Benjamin Franklin's statement, "A little neglect may breed mischief: for want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was lost; and for want of a horse the rider was lost." This statement highlights the importance of each and every task, no matter how small one might think they are. It is clear that all of us must achieve greatness in all things.
Many teams have worked very hard to prepare for our LCAP inspection and many are truly thankful. It is clear that leaders at all levels throughout the 315th, 437th, and 628th Wings are engaged, ready and committed to achieving excellence each and every day. All are glad to host the LCAP inspection team and prove our logistics excellence.
Many decades ago, Gen. Dwight Eisenhower stated that, "You will not find it difficult to prove that battles, campaigns and even wars have been won or lost primarily because of logistics." Team Charleston's logisticians are extremely proud of their logistics accomplishments that have made the world a safer place and protected the lives of deployed service members. This record of success is significant, well-earned and one that must continue. The logistics team at JB CHS- Air Base is poised and teamed to continue its phenomenal record of excellence.