CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Team Charleston is awesome!
The 16th Airlift Squadron deployed this week for our 120-day opportunity to respond and support the Global War on Terror. As the 16 AS prepared to depart, the men & women of this base displayed the professionalism and excellence that is Team Charleston.
When approaching a 120-day deployment, the experience is directly proportional to attitude. All Airmen are expeditionary. Our duty requires all of us to deploy away from home station to contribute to our continuing fight to protect our freedoms and our way of life. Individuals can dread the deployment or respond to it as an opportunity to grow personally and professionally into a better Airman and a better citizen.
As Airmen of the 16 AS deployed, more than 90 spouses and 80 children remain behind. Military families are special; not because the lives of military spouses and military children are more difficult, but because they face unique challenges of independence, frequent moves and extended separations. The nation recognizes these sacrifices through awareness. April is the Month of the Military Child, May is National Military Appreciation Month and Military Spouse Day is May 8. The Airman and Family Readiness Flight will host a Military Spouse Appreciation night to honor and strengthen the unique and special role military families contribute to our cause of freedom.
While separations associated with deployments can be difficult, the attitude you approach the deployment with can make all the difference. Separation can be difficult, but approaching the time as an opportunity for growth and national service can make the experience rewarding.
In his poem Good Timber, Douglas Malloch expresses the idea:
Good timber does not grow in ease;
The stronger wind, the tougher trees;
The farther sky; the greater length;
The more the storm, the more the strength...
Military families are special because their commitment to live in freedom's shadow make them stronger and grow to appreciate the benefits of sacrifice and freedom more fully.
The attitude of the deployed Airman is also a choice that can enhance the experience and opportunity. When deployed it's possible to slip into an Orwellian lifestyle of only doing what's asked and trudging through each dreary task. The key to a rewarding experience is enjoying the camaraderie of doing an important job with dedicated professionals and finding something larger than the task assigned to set as a goal.
Some Airmen focus on fitness, others on professional development. I have challenged the Lions of the 16 AS to view this opportunity to respond to our nation's call as an opportunity to grow. This is an opportunity to develop a deep level of professional knowledge in your career field. I have challenged every eligible company grade officer in the squadron to complete Squadron Officer's School in correspondence before we return. Our squadron superintendent challenged our 64 loadmasters to earn a combined 20 Community Colleges of the Air Force degrees during this deployment. We will be busy, but there is personal time. It's important to keep the focus on the greater good that can be invested.
Attitude is everything when living a military life. Airmen, spouses and children can make such a difference in how they live their military lifestyle by adopting an attitude of "bloom where you're planted" and answer each challenge with "how can I make the most of this opportunity and experience?"
I send my personal thanks to all the members of Team Charleston who helped the 16 AS deploy. I also send my personal thanks to all the families deploying a loved one in this rotation. Thank you for your service.