CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
We're going to welcome more than 100,000 people to the base April 26 for the Air Expo ... are you ready to tell the Air Force story?
The average American walking the streets of any city in the country may not know an Airman serving today or have any substantial contact with the military. That is why it is important for us to be good ambassadors not only while here in the Charleston area, but wherever we travel across our great country.
As your commander, I am proud of each and every Team Charleston member -- military, active duty, reserve and civilian. We are good at what we do ... many individuals and units are the best in Air Mobility Command and the Air Force! Now we need to start telling our story. We need each of you to engage early and often to tell the Air Force story.
Simply put, our Team Charleston mission is to Take the Fight to the Enemy! In this case, the "enemy" is ignorance of the Air Force. Our "fight" is to tell the story of the greatest air, space and cyberspace Air Force the world has ever known. This "fight" no longer just falls on the shoulders of those in leadership positions or public affairs professionals. Each of us has a responsibility to tell the Air Force story and represent the image of the Air Force to the best of our ability.
Headquarters Air Force recently conducted a survey. I share the results for everyone to understand how Americans feel about your commitment and service to the nation. Our efforts ensure the safety and security of not only our country but millions of people who share the same liberties and freedoms we have here in the United States.
Americans queried in the survey believed the Air Force was the most important service given the likely nature of future wars. But I wonder if the survey participants realized how engaged in the war on terror we are now. We know we are flying daily combat sorties, providing humanitarian airlift and relief and operating convoys supporting the Army ... but do they? How many know the Air Force has been fully engaged in combat operations since 1991 when we ousted Saddam Hussein from Kuwait? Do they know that our C-17s are aging three to four times more quickly then anticipated due to the sheer number of missions? We see this every day, launching one of our 21,000 plus missions a year, the most of any base in AMC ... do they? Do they realize we are deployed guarding detainees, repairing airfields and performing escort duties? Almost one third of Team Charleston is currently deployed performing those and many other critical missions around the world. My guess is no, since those surveyed also assigned the Air Force the lowest budget priority for funding and recapitalization among the services.
The Air Force has a great story to tell. Team Charleston is an important part of that story. How you communicate to our fellow Americans will not only give them insight to our dominance as an air power but what truly great patriots are serving them every day. Preparations for the air show are almost complete. The audience is eager to listen and learn. Are you ready to tell our story?
Team Charleston - Take the Fight to the Enemy!