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Thank you Key Spouses and Chief Suttles for taking care of our Airmen and families!

  • Published
  • By Col. Gary Goldstone
  • 375th Air Mobility Wing Commander
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  It's been a great couple of weeks here at the Showcase Wing! Construction projects, spring plantings, DV visits, graduations--it boggles the mind how much we accomplish on a daily basis and what we consider the "norm" here at Scott. What impresses me more is the can-do attitudes of our Airmen in taking care of our families and our mission! As we begin to ramp up for the summer switch over of personnel, I hope everyone will take some deserved time off to play hard as well.

Last week, Mary and I hosted Gen. Duncan McNabb, the Commander of U.S. Transportation Command and his wife, Linda, at a luncheon in honor of our Key Spouses to thank them for their service to our Airmen and their families. Key Spouses play an integral part in helping commanders communicate and maintain contact with our Airmen and their families. Additionally, Key Spouses provide a vital connection for our families of deployed members. Our Key Spouses serve as a resource for base and community programs and events, a guide on how to maneuver through military processes, and most importantly, as a friendly extension of the unit.

Over the past 20 months, our Key Spouse program has seen a boost in numbers, from 25 to 120 participants! The robust program growth is due to both strong leadership support and spouses who understand the importance of keeping family members informed and involved. I encourage every unit to assess the impact that their Key Spouses have had on its members and families, and to join me in thanking them for their service! They are true Wingmen!

I want to recognize another Wingman who has gone above and beyond the call of duty! The 375th Air Mobility Wing is getting ready to say goodbye to one of our enlisted corps' strongest advocates, Chief Master Sgt. Jim Suttles, who has served as the wing command chief since June 2007. Chief Suttles and I have a very special Wingman-bond that has allowed us to take care of our people and our mission. Chief Suttles retires May 12 after serving 30 years in this great Air Force! He and his wife, Debbie, have been outstanding champions for enlisted members and their families.

Chief Suttles has been a superb Wingman and has served our nation with distinction and honor. You see a special tribute to him in this week's paper, but words cannot capture the deep, heartfelt thanks that go out to him from all of us! Chief Suttles...thank you for "holding the line!"

Thank you, Chief! Thank you Key Spouses! Thank you for Enabling Combat Power!