JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
Some basics.
As I prepared for my assignment as commander of the 628th Air Base Wing I looked at the heritage of our unit. While not long, it is storied. We were established to be the host unit for all of Joint Base Charleston - so joint basing is built into our DNA, and you can see it in the symbology of our emblem. In just a few short years the 628th has garnered two Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards and a host of "Best in the Air Force" and "Best in Air Mobility Command" recognitions. It is a legacy for us to be proud of and continue to build on.
Our mission statement describes two key areas we are tasked with. "Deliver installation support" captures our contract with all our Joint Base mission partners and the host of facility, program, medical and support functions we provide to enable the readiness of their missions. Ensuring rigor and discipline in our own self-inspections, and continuing a culture of compliance with standards, helps us continue to build world class facilities and programs. We should then take some pride, and have a sense of ownership, in the excellence and success of the mission partners we enable.
Additionally, and just as importantly, we "deliver mission ready forces to combatant commanders". Our service members deploy in addition to our in-garrison mission. We need to ensure they have tough and thorough training, beyond the minimum, so they are ready for the combat environments they could face when deployed.
Implied in those missions is ensuring we care for our "service family" - including our civilian and active duty force, their families, and also our Guard, Reserve, and retiree populations. Taking care of families, especially those of deployed service members, sets the tone for our joint base community, and places value on the sacrifices sometimes required in a career of service.
As the bed rock of any successful organization, we have to foster the right environment in our work centers. Success starts there. If we can set a professional climate of mutual respect - where people's work is valued, where they receive mentorship and feedback, and where negative behaviors are not tolerated and are stopped immediately when started - then a lot of good things happen. The performance of individuals, teams, and units goes up. Negative behavioral trends go down, and we start to lend credence to the trust our nation has in our military institutions.
Lastly, we need to continue to be ambassadors to the Lowcountry - telling the stories of our missions at home and abroad, sharing the challenges of service life, and embracing the community that supports us so actively. We are fortunate to have such a wonderful place to serve and call home.
I'm glad to see that we are collectively attacking these issues with zeal already, and I'm anxious to help our team clear hurdles on that path. Many rely on the excellence of our service.
I know my family and I are excited to serve here, to meet as many of you as we can, learn about your mission challenges and successes, and take part in our vibrant community.