CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Team Charleston,
Lately, our senior leaders have been using the term "all in" when referring to many of the activities our service is involved in. Both Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz have said the Air Force is "all in" and will continue to support the joint and coalition effort to win the Overseas Contingency Operation. For those not familiar with the term, "all in" commonly refers to betting all of your chips when playing Texas Hold 'em, an extremely popular form of poker. When you're "all in," you're willing to risk everything because you think you have a winning hand.
It's interesting our leadership uses this term to describe the efforts of the Air Force. To me, being "all in" means one is committed to a desirable outcome, like winning a poker hand. It means the Air Force is committed to winning the ongoing war and to keeping the nation free. It means every Airman is willing to do what's expected and required to successfully accomplish the mission. The Airmen I'll mention next epitomize what it means to be "all in."
Chief Master Sgt. Rick Eugley recently retired after serving thirty years in the Air Force. He could have retired several years ago, but instead chose to continue to serve his country honorably for as long as he could. He truly cared about his Airmen and their efforts to keep us free and he's lived our core values the entire time I've known him. I'm better for having had the opportunity to work with and learn from him. Chief Eugley was definitely "all in."
Twenty-two Airmen from Charleston, McChord, Seymour-Johnson, and Shaw AFBs recently completed training taught by a team of instructors from the Air Force Honor Guard and are now better prepared to represent the Air Force at funerals and other ceremonies. These young men, women, and all of the members of our Honor Guard team provide well-deserved final respects to our nation's veterans. They showcase our flag and our service at community events, and they make me proud every time I see them in action. They also represent what it means to be "all in."
Earlier this month, 144 Charleston Airmen earned 144 Associate of Science degrees from the Community College of the Air Force, and the Air Force awarded more than 8,100 degrees this spring. These Airmen bettered themselves and the Air Force by expanding their knowledge in subject areas directly related to their military duties and I'm proud of their accomplishments. Willingly sacrificing time away from family and friends to complete college courses so the Air Force becomes even better also proves these Airmen are "all in."
In poker, a player can fold, check or bet depending upon his or her perceived chances of winning the hand. Going "all in" puts a player at risk, but winning the hand makes it worthwhile. Every member of Team Charleston plays a role in successfully accomplishing our mission, no matter what his or her job happens to be. Those members who choose to go "all in" by serving honorably, by representing the Air Force positively in the community and by improving themselves through education definitely have a winning hand and stand to gain the most from their service to our great nation. Are you "all in?"