CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Team Charleston, today we celebrate what is considered the birth of a nation. Today is Independence Day, signified by the adoption of the Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776. This document gave the United States its independence from Great Britain. Throughout the country, Americans will take time in their own way to acknowledge the day. This acknowledgment will take patriotic overtones with parades and public and private events celebrating the history. The festive red, white and blue colors of our American flag will dominate the décor of all events.
Families will celebrate with barbecues, picnics, summer festivals and by attending baseball games. The day will also be marked with family reunions, outdoor concerts and will end with those magnificent fireworks displays. As you can, see being outdoors is common for these events. With all these outside activities, safety is paramount to your fun not being hampered by an unexpected accident or injury. As we continue through the 101 Critical Days of Summer, we cannot allow our fun in the sun to cloud our judgment.
The time from July 3 to August 11 is typically known as the "dog days of summer" and is the hottest time of the year. Outdoor activities will continue and we have to be diligent to ensure we do the necessary things to avoid sun-related injuries. Some of the things to do to avoid injuries are dress for the heat in light colored, light weight clothing and wear a hat. Drink water continuously even if you do not feel thirsty. Do not consume too much alcohol or caffeine as it will dehydrate the body. It is best to slow down and avoid strenuous activity during the hottest part of the day. Remember to take frequent breaks, watch out for your wingman and have fun.
It is always a treat to hear the wonderful things our Diamond Sharp recipients accomplish to be selected. Our winners for this month were no exception and truly deserving. These amazing Airmen are: Airman 1st Class Johnny McCormick, 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Airman 1st Class David Rose, 437th Maintenance Squadron, Airman 1st Class William Alexander, 437th Logistics Readiness Squadron, and Airman 1st Class Stanley Garland, 437th Security Forces Squadron.
Congratulations to our newest technical sergeant and master sergeant promotees. On last Thursday 80 staff sergeants and 66 technical sergeants were notified virtually that they had been selected to progress to the next grade. This was the largest virtual release and it was an overwhelming success. Master sergeant selects don't forget to enroll in your Senior NCO Academy by correspondence. Best wishes to you all, the hard work and diligent studying has paid off.
Finally, congratulations to our July promotees. You have patiently waited and the day has finally arrived when you will assume the next grade. Hopefully during the time that you waited you thought about how you can make a difference with your promotion. I encourage you to embrace every opportunity to mentor another Airman or take the initiative at work. We were very excited to have our two Chief selectees get promoted. Charleston newest chief master sergeants are Tonia Savidge, 437th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, and Christopher Riley, 437th Maintenance Operations Squadron.
Team Charleston - "Take the Fight to the Enemy!"