Chief encourages Airmen to support wing, squadron functions

  • Published
  • By Chief Master Sgt. Michael Williams
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing command chief
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Party, party, party!

I hope everyone is enjoying themselves as we celebrate and give thanks during this festive time of year. Please tell me you are going to attend or have attended your squadron's holiday party.

Don't be one of those people that say, "I'm not attending that party, I work with them every day."

If that's you, I for one, am sorry you feel that way.

However, I guarantee you're not alone and it's not just this time of the year when people don't care to attend wing, group or squadron functions. Either the meal costs too much or people don't want to get dressed up or put on their service dress.

In my opinion, (we are all entitled to an opinion), we must support these activities. They are a part of our heritage.

Our Air Force is relatively young compared to our sister services. But we are no different from them when it comes to our traditions. The foundation of almost 60 years of existence is built upon traditions, customs and courtesies.

As we continue to develop the next generation of leaders, supporting wing, group and squadron activities is a legacy we must cling to and leave for those who will follow in our footsteps.

Allow me a moment to illustrate my point with a story.

One day a father decided to take his son camping as he had promised to do on several occasions. The father borrowed a friend's log cabin located high up in the mountains.

As luck would have it, it began to snow and the young lad was extremely excited about playing in the snow. Night crept up on them and the temperature dropped significantly.
The boy and his father collected fire wood from a pile of logs which was piled high against the side of the cabin.

They truly enjoyed the fire that night and the rest of their trip. When it came time to leave they packed up their things and the boy quickly ran to the car. His father laughed and said, "Our work here is not done!"

We must chop firewood to replace the logs we used. The boy look puzzled because he could see the pile of logs against the cabin was still plentiful.
So he turned towards his father and said, "Why? There's plenty of wood left." The father replied, "We must leave the pile higher than it was when we found it. Son, in every endeavor you should do your very best to leave it better than it was so the next person may have it better than you."

There are times I don't feel like attending a function, but I do! I do because my wife and I are committed to the Airmen on Travis.

You see, if we don't attend the holiday parties, awards luncheons, Dining-Ins, annual awards banquets (to name a few) eventually those events will no longer be a part of our heritage.

As leaders, we must leave our Air Force higher than it was when we found it. Let's develop tomorrow's leaders and make sure they know and value the traditions the most formidable Air and Space Force was built upon.

Sorry, out of time ... I have to go get ready, we have three holiday parties to attend tonight.

Until next time, be safe and make responsible choices.