CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
This week, Team Charleston had the privilege of hosting the Air Mobility Command Commander in Chief Installation Excellence Award evaluation team. The team is charged with personally evaluating the top three AMC bases who have demonstrated the highest standards of excellence for the year. This year, Charleston AFB, Travis AFB and Dover AFB were selected to compete. Ultimately, the single most outstanding team will compete again to represent the Air Force against our sister services.
Every Airman in every group and squadron at Charleston had a role to play and, despite the fact we had only two weeks to prepare, Team Charleston excelled. Without exception, the Installation Excellence team raved about Charleston's facilities, equipment and, most of all, our Airmen. It was your sense of teamwork, innovation, enthusiasm and team excellence that stole the show. I could not be prouder!
We'll have the final results soon, and I fully expect us to bring home the trophy for a second year!
At last week's Airlift/Tanker Association Convention, I felt a huge sense of pride each time a briefer showed a slide talking about the great things going on in Air Mobility Command and the accomplishments Team Charleston has made during this past year. We're taking the fight to the enemy and saving lives each and every day around the world. An example of this is the 16th Airlift Squadron's "Red 7" crew, who was recognized at the A/TA Convention for completing the airlift of a Soldier who was stabbed in the head by an insurgent on the streets of Iraq making it the Air Force's third non-stop medical evacuation.
"Red 7" flew a 13-hour mission on our nation's birthday so the Soldier could receive further life-saving medical care at Bethesda National Naval Medical Center in Maryland. To everyone's surprise, the Soldier whose life they helped save was present to personally thank the crew for everything they did. There was not a dry eye in the entire place. This Soldier's story is a constant reminder of how essential our roles are in the Global War on Terrorism.
On a lighter note, congratulations to members of Team Charleston's Crud team who brought home the "gold" after winning the 2007 A/TA Crud Championship held during the convention. The competition was keen, but once again, Team Charleston excelled.
As we near the end of Charleston's Combined Federal Campaign season, I would like to personally thank each of you for helping give back to our community. The pledges made by our civilian and military donors during the campaign season help support eligible non-profit organizations that provide health and human service benefits throughout the world. If you have not yet donated and wish to do so, contact your unit CFC representative. It is still not too late to make a difference.
Today, as we observe our base-wide Wingman Day, I remind you that having a wingman is part of our Air Force culture. Everyone should take it to heart; make sure your wingman knows you care and you are there for them whenever they need you. That is the mark of a true wingman.
Finally, congratulations to our quarterly award winners and our October promotees. Thank you for your hard work and dedication to the mission. You have set the standard high ... and I challenge you to continue to strive for excellence in all you do.
Team Charleston - Take the Fight to the Enemy!