CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
What an honor and privilege it is to fill the current command chief gap. My goal is to maintain the same high standard and morale established by Chief Master Sgt. Bernise Belcer, and turn a healthy, strong Team Charleston force to Chief Master Sgt. Mike Ivey.
Team Charleston's participation in the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, The Moving Wall, was nothing short of superb! A huge "thanks" to Master Sgt. Antonio Jones, 437th Logistics Readiness Squadron, for leading the effort. To those of you who stood watch around the clock and to those ceremony escorts -- you took the time to touch lives in a most inspiring way. This memorial is a half-size replica of The Wall in Washington, D.C., and has been to more than 1,000 towns across America since it began its journey October 15, 1984. Again, thanks, Team Charleston, you were vital to the successful mutli-service effort to pay tribute to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
On base Oct. 17, the Top 3 paid tribute to Airmen by throwing an Oktoberfest-style celebration with sporting events. I saw our proud Airmen, their families and even some dogs (although I thought one may have been a squirrel) enjoying the festivities. Thanks to Senior Master Sgt. Damian Fox, 437th Operations Group, and his Top 3 leadership team for an outstanding event, and kudos to all of you Senior NCO volunteers who worked in the less-than-glamorous positions where "the rubber meets the road" or should I say, "where the fishing boat meets the ice cooler." Sergeant Fox asked me to thank all of the base agencies, especially the 437th Civil Engineer Squadron and 437th Communications Squadron, who so eagerly offered their services, ensuring a memorable event.
Volunteerism makes America great. The Charleston community is very supportive of the base and Airmen. And, many times, the best way for us to give back is by giving our time -- perhaps our most precious resource. Volunteer is defined in www.Dictionary.com as a person who performs a service willingly, and without pay. However, volunteers are paid with intrinsic rewards. How rewarding is it to watch thankful, less fortunate families move into their new home built by Habitat for Humanity volunteers, or see the faces of wounded veterans light up because someone cared enough to visit them in the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center? One of the most powerful things you can do in life is to look someone in the eye and let them know you care. You'll watch hard hearts soften, steely stares melt and harsh tones dry up, and you may even witness a total transformation right before your eyes. So step out of your comfort zone and share a little of yourself with the surrounding community and see what happens.
Team Charleston - Take the Fight to the Enemy!