CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Thanksgiving greetings! In this holiday season, my family and I send our sincerest wishes to everyone - active-duty Airmen, Reserve, Guard, civilian and their families -- all those who make up Team Charleston.
We have plenty to be thankful for, and this is the perfect time to express my gratitude to all of you for the things you do every day. To our commanders and chiefs, our first sergeants and frontline supervisors, I thank you for the care and concern you have for our people and our mission. To our families and friends, I thank you for your support and strength. We could not sustain our current tempo without your encouragement and thoughtfulness.
I'd like to again reiterate the importance of keeping safety as a priority during this holiday season. You may have heard that Air Mobility Command's 101 Critical Days of Summer ended successfully this year with no fatalities -- thank you for being your own safety manager.
During the last three years, the Air Force has seen a significant increase in fall season fatalities. If we pay the same attention to reducing personal risk year round as we did during the 101 Critical Days of Summer, we can turn this trend around. Let's keep up the momentum and keep making good choices that result in safe activities. Commanders and supervisors need to stay involved with their Airmen. Stress safety and making responsible choices at every opportunity. Safety is everyone's responsibility -- supervisors, coworkers and Wingmen. I want to make sure everyone returns safe and sound.
This is also a great opportunity to remind you that if you plan to drink this holiday season, plan ahead. Have a designated driver, call a cab or make arrangements ahead of time to stay where you are. Use 0-0-1-3 as a tool to moderate your alcohol intake.
An extremely busy year is already coming to a close with the arrival of the holiday season. We have many people deployed throughout the world and people who are continuing to deploy to various locations during the holidays. Stay connected to these people. It's our job as commanders, supervisors, coworkers and friends to make sure our people get the support they need. Talk to them, ask about their concerns, take care of their families, and make sure these deployed people know you are thinking about them while they are gone. Taking care of your people should be one of your highest priorities.
So as you gather this Thanksgiving with family and friends, please be certain to remember who we are and what we stand for; give thanks for those of us serving beyond the horizon in tireless defense of our way of life.
Above all, as you plan your Thanksgiving festivities, be sure to watch out for each other and make responsible decisions ... we can't do it without you!
Team Charleston - Take the Fight to the Enemy!