AFRC, 4th AF command chiefs visit Hawaii, Guam units

Published Dec. 9, 2014
By Tech. Sgt. Phyllis Keith
624th Regional Support Group Public Affairs

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- Two command chiefs made an official visit to the 624th Regional Support Group's units here and at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, during the December unit training assemblies to thank the Airmen of the 624th RSG for their service and to field their questions about the future of the Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) and its role as a proven and respected combat force.

Chief Master Sgt. Cameron Kirksey, command chief of the Air Force Reserve, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia, and Chief Master Sgt. Brian Wong, command chief of the 4th Air Force, March Air Reserve Base, California, traveled to Hawaii and Guam over the weekends of December 6-7 and 13-14, respectively, covering more than 8,000 miles in their travels from the mainland.

Kirksey said that meeting with senior leadership and individual staff and squadron members was the best way for him to understand the concerns of the group. It also gave the Airman a chance to talk to him in both formal and informal settings.

Wong said that there were always things that needed fixing and that he and Chief Kirksey were here to work on those together.

At each commander's call at Hickam Field and at Andersen Air Force Base, Kirksey and Wong addressed the group's enlisted force, emphasizing how proud they were of the work everyone was doing to meet readiness requirements.

A number of unit members took the opportunity to address training and manning issues by posing questions to the chiefs. Kirksey said his goal was to take these concerns, issues and challenges and communicate them directly to the command.

The commander of the 624th RSG, Col. Maynard "Max" Mendoza, said maintaining a ready force was key to be able to answer the nation's call. He said that as the Air Force continued to downsize, his Airmen had adapted to doing more with less. "As a result, we've become an extremely efficient, cost-effective operational force that can be deployed with less than 72 hours' notification," he said.

"We are a resilient and mature force, and I attribute that to our leadership and to the resolve of our men and women in uniform. There is uncertainty, but our people are fully charged and ready to get out there and do their nation's business," said Chief Kirksey.

In addition to touring the units, the chiefs laid a wreath on behalf of AFRC at an annual Remembrance Ceremony commemorating the December 7, 1941 Japanese attacks on Hickam Field. They also visited the Hawaii Air National Guard facility and the Joint Pacific Accounting Command here. At Andersen Air Force Base, they visited a brown tree snake holding facility and participated in a self-aid buddy care class with the aerial port and aerospace medicine units there.