CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Good Morning Team! I will be taking a little quality time with the family starting today so I will not be available for this afternoon's safety send-off. Therefore I would like to take this opportunity to wish each and every one of you a safe holiday weekend. If you were not able to do something for that special someone for Valentine's Day this may be your chance to right that wrong. As you are out doing whatever it is you choose to do this weekend, have a contingency plan; one that will be easy to implement if necessary. If you will be on the road, like us, give yourself plenty of time to reach your destination safely. Please remember it is all about making smart, responsible choices -- something we do every day when on the job but for some strange reason something some of us do not do quite as well in our private lives.
Earlier this week I had the honor of spending the day with Airman 1st Class Joseph Caprio III. The name may sound very familiar to many of you as he was recently selected as a Diamond Sharp recipient by his first sergeant. What an exceptional Airman and outstanding member of Team Charleston. Airman Caprio is a fuels mobile equipment operator with the 437th Logistics Readiness Squadron and he was my shadow for a day. Although he has been in the Air Force less than a year, he is already building a tremendous legacy. Along with being a fantastic fuels specialist, or "gas passer," which was how I introduced him to everyone, he is a dedicated member of the Base Honor Guard. He has also taken on the responsibility of being a self-aid/buddy care instructor for his unit.
At the end of the day, I felt that in some ways I had cheated him. It was very obvious that I received much more out of the experience than he possibly could have. I am extremely confident that he and his wife, Stacey, will be a huge part of our Air Force family for many years to come. What a bright future we have!
Interestingly enough Chief Master Sgt. Bernise Belcer, 437th Mission Support Group superintendent, and I were making our rounds on the base recently and stopped by to see the LRS fuels team. Airman Caprio is but one of the many professionals who work every day, behind the scenes and under the radar, ensuring every aircraft that departs our flightline has the fuel it needs to accomplish its mission. Spend a couple of minutes with any member of the fuels team and you quickly sense they understand the importance of what they do. From the pristine condition of the vehicle maintenance shop to the shining "refuelers" they use to dispense the fuel, their pride and professionalism is on display. While they are off the beaten path, take a few minutes to visit them, I know you will be as impressed as we were.
Team Charleston - One family, one mission, one fight!