CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
At the most recent Charleston Top 3 meeting, a small group of base senior NCOs gathered to discuss issues affecting our enlisted corps. Unfortunately, only a small percentage was able to join us that day and I am sure there were several reasons why most of our senior NCOs were not there to include being on a temporary duty assignment, working the mission or on leave out of the area. I thought about our attendance at the meeting and wondered what other reasons some didn't come. I quickly realized several of our senior NCOs may not be fully aware of what the Top 3 is about or what they do for the base.
Most, if not all, bases have a Top 3 organization for our enlisted leadership to gather and discuss issues important to our units, base or the Air Force. At Charleston AFB we have an organization that has several goals, projects and activities; however, the primary focus is to develop, inspire and enhance the quality of life for all enlisted members and their families. Often, people view this organization as "just another fundraising group." Yes, we conduct several fundraising activities throughout the year, but all of our money goes back to support great initiatives and programs for our Airmen such as the annual awards banquet, scholarship program, burger burns for our dorm residents, and the list goes on. Please realize, fundraising is a very small part of what we do. Did you know the Top 3 conducts regular Adopt-a-Highway events to beautify our local community, organizes trips to the hospitals to honor our veterans, stocks the local food bank to help out our fellow Americans and most recently extended a helping hand to a Charleston AFB Airman who was left paralyzed after an unfortunate motorcycle mishap?
Set all that aside for a moment and think about it like this ... our Top 3 association gives every senior NCOs an opportunity to gather together and discuss the important issues affecting our mission, our Airmen and our families. The Top 3 is not focused on raising money or paying dues, but it is about fellowship, mentorship and leadership.
If you are a senior NCO and have never come to a Top 3 meeting or have been turned off in the past, I ask you to give it a shot. As a matter of fact, I challenge all of our senior NCOs to attend the very next meeting; there are very few reasons you can't invest an hour of your time, regardless of what shift you work, or day off you have. Let's see what kind of forum our group of nearly 400 active-duty Airmen and numerous reserve senior NCOs can create to better our Airmen, our base and ourselves. If you are a master sergeant select, master sergeant, senior master sergeant or chief master sergeant, I hope you will join the association president, Master Sgt. Michelle McMeekin March 11 at noon in the Charleston Club. It will be time well spent.