CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Members of Team Charleston lean on each other to accomplish the mission. Whether it's aircrew members trusting the maintainers who work on our C-17s or deployed Airmen trusting our people to supply them with the life-saving add-on vehicle armor they'll need for convoy duty, mutual support is evident and required for us to be successful.
How are we at supporting our Wingman when the situation is not so obvious? This month is National Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Our goal is to garner increased support from various communities nationwide, and work more effectively and efficiently to heighten awareness and promote prevention of sexual violence in our communities.
We conducted training to help people identify and respond to situations that are some of the toughest that we have to deal with. Thanks to everyone who participated in these training events, from our most senior officers down to our most junior Airmen. Your support for people who have experienced sexual violence is vitally important. We cannot let our Wingman down when the times are tough.
Next week is also National Volunteer Week. The goal for that week is to take the time to thank one of America's most valuable assets - volunteers - and call the public's attention to all that they do to improve our communities. Volunteers are everywhere on the base. Take time to say "thank you" to the person helping you with your prescription at the pharmacy. Tell the volunteer at the Airmen's Center how much you appreciate the effort they put into their work. Volunteers give up their time to help us because they truly enjoy serving people and being a part of our great community. Continue to donate your time to worthwhile causes on and off base.
Finally, I'd like to share a comment I received from a blogger, the journalists of the new generation. If you're into "blogging" you find that there is a website for every topic you can think of. Stories and pictures of Team Charleston members oftentimes end up on blogs for people worldwide to see. Recently, Cynthia, a blogger from Central Oregon, posted pictures of flight operations at Bagram AB, Afghanistan, on her military support website. Two of the images were Charleston C-17s.
Here is what she wrote:
I did notice the Charleston insignia on the tail...in both of the photos
of the C-17. Please pass along our love, support and appreciation
to the young men and women that serve to protect and defend us.
We value what they do and have a great life because of what they do.
They will ever be our heroes!
I echo her comments. Please continue to make me proud. Take care of yourselves and each other. You are the best of the best!
Team Charleston -- One family, one mission, one fight!