CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Team Charleston ... thanks for the incredible ride! As DiAnna and I prepare to depart the Air Force and begin the next chapter of our lives, we'd like to offer a heartfelt "thank you" for making the last year and a half such an amazing time in our lives.
To our phenomenal Reserve partners, you put the "team" in Team Charleston ... we absolutely cannot deliver freedom and save lives without you. The 437th and 315th Airlift Wings combine to form the premier airlift team in Air Mobility Command and the Air Force Reserve Command and they also set the standard for active-duty and Reservists working hand-in-hand to get the mission accomplished -- what an awesome partnership!
To the men and women of Team Charleston, we've watched with pride as you've won virtually every individual, unit and organizational award in AMC and, in many instances, the Air Force and Department of Defense. In 2005, you were runner-up in the Commander in Chief's Installation Excellence Award, and then won it in 2006. You've broken records for cargo delivered in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom by picking up primary responsibility for 100 percent of air channel cargo destined for Iraq. You have saved untold hundreds of lives through rapid shipment of vehicle up-armor kits, new armored vehicles, ammunition and critical supplies and, most importantly, conducting thousands of combat aeromedical evacuations that offered countless servicemembers and their families hope and relief in the midst of tragedy.
In addition to these amazing accomplishments, you've broken timed airdrop records, and then to make national headlines by first launching a world record 17-ship formation and then breaking your own record the next year with a 20-ship formation. This is unsurpassed by any other wing or nation in the world.
Even more impressive is your initiative and ingenuity. Charleston co-authored the concept of operations for the "two expeditionary airlift squadron" concept, and then field tested it in combat. The results were phenomenal -- production skyrocketed, C-17s swept Iraq and Afghanistan of backlogged cargo and the operational tempo dropped to its lowest level since 9/11. The most impressive result is that C-17s are credited with removing more than 2,600 trucks and nearly 6,500 soldiers from Iraq's highways, saving countless lives.
You are doing an exceptional job of meeting the challenges of Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century. Charleston's velocity initiative reduced the C-17 alert sequence by one hour and 30 minutes or 55 percent. At the same time, you've streamlined maintenance, aerial port operations and battle-tested and implemented an inaugural Joint Precision Airdrop capability in Afghanistan. You cut base energy usage by approximately 5 percent per year, powered the base with renewable energy, served as the test base for electric cars in the AF and a host of other initiatives -- too numerous to mention. All I can say is, wow ... no one can touch you!
Our operations tempo is high -- pilots are averaging more than 120 days away from home a year, and the vast majority of our Airmen spend four out of every 20 months deployed. The aerial port processes all airlifted cargo supporting OIF, averaging more than 600,000 pounds per day. Combat support, maintenance and medical units have kept our Airmen, our base and our 51 C-17s ready to deploy anywhere in the world at a moment's notice.
You know where you fit in the fight, and you are ready to go the distance ... whatever it takes.
To our Charleston communities, the support we have received from you is second to none.
Thank you for letting our more than 7,500 employees feel so appreciated while they serve our nation. And thanks for being recognized the best in AMC for community support. The men and women of Charleston AFB are the best of the best, and it is only befitting that you have been recognized by AMC as the best for two of the last four years. Team Charleston delivers freedom and saves lives every day and you are an integral part of the team!
To our veterans of WW II, Korea, Vietnam, the Cold War, the Gulf War, Afghanistan and Iraq, thank you for your service to our great nation. Thank you for your sacrifices and for preparing the generations that have followed to continue the proud tradition.
To a special group of volunteers who give so freely of their time, you truly are one of America's most valuable assets. Your presence is visible virtually everywhere on base. Thank you for your support and service and for being a great part of our military community.
Finally, I would like to thank our Joint Basing partners, the Navy Weapons Station and our sister services, the Marines, Army and Coast Guard, for your support. Keep up the great work and continue to build on the strong partnerships we have formed.
I am blessed to have had the opportunity to command a wing that is leading the pack in so many ways -- your support of the Global War on Terrorism, your AFSO 21 initiatives, your base, unit and individual award winners, your community support and your efforts to save lives and delivering the equipment to the fight -- and for that I am truly thankful. It doesn't get any better!
As we head off to Florida, we will think of Team Charleston in the days and weeks ahead and will remember and cherish your spirit, determination and commitment. You will always be a part of our family.
I am honored and proud to have had the privilege to serve as your commander -- what a great place to end my 24-year Air Force career!
I have no doubt Team Charleston will continue to be the premiere wings in AMC and AFRC, and I'll watch with pride as you continue to achieve new records while setting the standard for others to follow. Take great care of yourselves and each other ... you are the best of the best!
Team Charleston -- One family, one mission, one fight!