New AMC command chief sends letter to Airmen

By Air Mobility Command Public Affairs on August 19, 2011

To the Airmen of Air Mobility Command (officers, enlisted and civilians),

Greetings to you from your new command chief! I am Chief Master Sgt. Andy Kaiser, and my beloved bride Debbie and I are honored and delighted to be your new "senior enlisted servants" for this amazing command.

I say "servants" for two reasons. First, Debbie has been my bride for my entire Air Force career, and I certainly would not be blessed to serve in this role were it not for her. We work together as a team. Second, we purposely use the word "servants" because that is exactly what we plan to do -- serve the men and women of Air Mobility Command alongside (AMC Commander) Gen. (Raymond E.) and Diana Johns, as you support our joint team members around the world.

Having previously served as a group superintendent and wing command chief within Air Mobility Command, we are thrilled to be back after nearly five years. With our global missions and locales, the sun never sets on AMC. And the reason we are always on the go, always moving something or someone is simple, because we say yes. When the call comes in, when someone needs something, we answer that call so that they may prevail, no matter their mission or location.

We are the ones who deliver hope, fuel the fight and save lives. Whether supporting combat ops or humanitarian relief, you are perpetually answering the call, saying "Yes!" and stepping forward to help others prevail and to ensure Global Reach for America, always. How awesome it is to once again be a part of this mission!

A few initial thoughts for you as we begin this journey together:

- We are exceptional! No other group of people has pledged to give their very lives, if necessary, to ensure America's freedoms and security. While we can appreciate sports legends, Hollywood stars, brilliant inventors, hard-working entrepreneurs, and our nation's leaders, there is no other group of people who do what we do, willing to pay the ultimate price. Total Force service members amount to just 0.7 percent of the American population, yet we literally make all the difference in the world. That is something to be awful proud of -- being a part of the "top 1 percent!"

- The mission demands our best! No matter what we do, others rely on us. It is for this reason we need to deliver our best every single day. Whether it is pushing a pallet, filling a prescription, fixing a troublesome engine, or one of thousands of other tasks, there is no room for slacking off. To do so could mean the very difference between mission accomplishment and mission stoppage, and not just our missions, but also the missions of those we serve. We are here to serve and we Airmen get the job done.

- We serve you and your families. Just as your missions ensure that others may prevail, so too does my work. In addition to advising General Johns, my role is to serve you by "running interference and removing roadblocks" as you execute the mission. Debbie believes her role is to serve our spouses and encourage them as they support their active duty spouse. Let's face it, being an Airman is an immense honor, and it is not for the faint-hearted. Being an Airman's spouse is equally rewarding and at times, incredibly tough. Debbie hopes to remind our spouses how truly precious they really are, and the critical role they play supporting our mission.

- Comprehensive Airman Fitness is a culture and a way of life. Our Air Force has had a significant presence in the Middle East since 1990, and today's triple operations of Enduring Freedom, New Dawn, and Unified Promise continue to tax an Airman's ability to bounce back after a significant challenge. By embodying the four pillars of mental fitness, physical fitness, social fitness, and spiritual fitness, our Airmen don't just survive, they thrive in these formidable times. If we do not keep ourselves strong, then we cannot do the missions we are called to do.

- The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little "extra." While all Airmen are exceptional (see the first point above), there are ordinary Airmen and extraordinary Airmen. Some may erroneously think to be extraordinary, you have to give twice the effort. I disagree. Often the difference between the two categories is just a little more effort, a little more professionalism, a touch more excellence.

- Communication is critical! To that end, our plans include establishing "AMC Command Chief" and "AMC Command Chief Spouse" Facebook pages. Our goal is to use this social media option to facilitate communication flow and encourage Airmen and spouses. In addition, I plan on generating periodic messages on current issues and enduring subjects. These are just two examples of how we hope to "keep the comm flowing."

- We'll see you soon! I can only best serve you by coming to you. Whether it is in Southwest Asia, our en route locations, or our state-side bases, I plan to spend time with as many AMC Airmen in the quickest manner possible. As much as she can, Debbie plans to join me on these visits.

Much more to follow, but for now Debbie and I simply say "THANK YOU!" to our Airmen and their families for serving. Your service and sacrifices make an incalculable difference to the Soldiers, Sailors and Marines who rely on us and on every single American, and we are honored and humbled to serve alongside each of you!