CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Team Charleston, no one can deny that we give our all to make the mission of this base a success.
However, one could argue that we are not quite as enthusiastic when it comes to supporting some of the organizations that support our fellow Airmen. I'm speaking of the five enlisted private organizations we have on base: the First Six, the Top 3, the Air Force Sergeants Association, the First Sergeants Association and the Chiefs Group. These organizations provide invaluable support for several base programs and recurring events.
Some of you may not be aware that you are members of one or more of these organizations simply by virtue of your rank. However, this kind of membership is not enough.
These organizations need members who are willing to engage and become active participants. The most prevalent concern I hear from the organizations' presidents is that of low participation. The attendance at meetings is often limited to the same small group of faithful workers who contribute the lion's share of the work. Yet this is the work that is making all the difference. Some of you may be wondering what do these groups do and why you should become a part of them.
Each of these groups sponsors the Airman Leadership School and the quarterly awards programs. Were it not for their efforts, these recognition programs would not exist as we know them. Also, the Air Force makes a donation to the Enlisted Widows Village and the Air Force Enlisted Heritage Hall every year. This year, our private enlisted organizations raised more than $1,000 in support of this effort. This money was combined with the larger Air Force-wide effort for presentation at the Senior Enlisted Leadership Summit in July. At the summit, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney McKinley presented a check for $68,000 to the Enlisted Widows Village and a check for $26,000 to the Air Force Enlisted Heritage Hall. These are just some examples of what our private enlisted organizations are doing.
You should become active in one or more of these organizations because they need the help of motivated Airmen who want to lead. At times, they have to deny requests for support due to the lack of active participation. As their numbers grow, so will their ability to support the needs of our various base programs. With the operations tempo so high, it is difficult to get things done with just a faithful few. If you are not active, I urge you to get active. The contact information for each organization can be found on Air Force Portal.
This week, more than 60 of our newest master sergeants and technical sergeant selectees attended an informative three-and-a-half day seminar designed just for them. The seminar covered topics focused on preparing them for their new senior NCO responsibilities. Our base career advisor, Master Sgt. Timothy Kelly, facilitated the seminar along with several other senior NCOs who volunteered to teach various lessons. Special thanks to Master Sgt. Michelle McMeekin, 373rd Training Squadron, Detachment 5, and her committee for their work on the Senior NCO induction banquet. It was a first-class event and a memorable occasion for the inductees and their families.
Team Charleston - Take the Fight to the Enemy!