WEBVTT 00:04.719 --> 00:06.830 Good morning , ladies and gentlemen , 00:06.830 --> 00:08.830 and welcome to the 55th Maintenance 00:08.830 --> 00:10.941 Group Change of Command . I am Master 00:10.941 --> 00:12.719 Sergeant Trenton Rougeau , your 00:12.719 --> 00:14.830 narrator . For today's event , we are 00:14.830 --> 00:16.663 honored to have as our presiding 00:16.663 --> 00:16.659 officer , Colonel Mark D Howard , 00:16.670 --> 00:19.399 Commander 55th Wing . Today we are 00:19.409 --> 00:21.799 honoring Co Colonel Robert K Clement on 00:21.809 --> 00:23.920 the occasion of his relinquishment of 00:23.920 --> 00:26.031 command of the 55th Maintenance Group 00:26.031 --> 00:28.198 and Colonel Kenneth H Fetters upon his 00:28.198 --> 00:30.309 assumption of command , the change of 00:30.309 --> 00:32.309 command ceremony , you are about to 00:32.309 --> 00:34.365 witness is deeply rooted in military 00:34.365 --> 00:36.420 tradition . Dating back to Frederick 00:36.420 --> 00:38.753 the great of prussia throughout history . 00:38.753 --> 00:40.531 The military organizations have 00:40.531 --> 00:42.642 developed flags with unique designs . 00:42.642 --> 00:44.476 The banner still waved after the 00:44.476 --> 00:46.476 conflict . It was a sign that their 00:46.476 --> 00:48.698 side had not tasted defeat on the field 00:48.698 --> 00:50.698 of battle , having this position of 00:50.698 --> 00:52.420 great importance that flag was 00:52.420 --> 00:54.642 incorporated into the change of command 00:54.642 --> 00:56.698 ceremony . The organizational banner 00:56.698 --> 00:58.865 was exchanged in public for all to see 00:58.865 --> 01:00.976 that the person who holds the flag is 01:00.976 --> 01:03.198 the unchallenged leader of the armies . 01:03.198 --> 01:05.365 The modern day ceremony is principally 01:05.365 --> 01:07.531 symbolic yet it still announces to all 01:07.531 --> 01:09.753 the authority of the incoming commander 01:09.753 --> 01:11.753 in the finest military tradition we 01:11.753 --> 01:13.920 would like to extend a special welcome 01:13.920 --> 01:16.142 to the families of the official party . 01:16.142 --> 01:18.198 Please hold applause until all names 01:18.198 --> 01:20.253 have been announced , Missus Shannon 01:20.253 --> 01:22.531 Howard , wife of our presiding officer , 01:22.531 --> 01:22.279 Colonel Mark D Howard . Colonel 01:22.290 --> 01:24.290 Clement's wife Laurie and their son 01:24.290 --> 01:26.599 Logan , Colonel Fetter's wife , Alina . 01:27.699 --> 01:29.839 Additionally , we are pleased to have 01:29.849 --> 01:31.682 numerous distinguished guests in 01:31.682 --> 01:33.405 attendance with us today . The 01:33.410 --> 01:35.188 honorable Paul Lambert mayor of 01:35.188 --> 01:37.260 Plattsmouth Nebraska , Colonel Aaron 01:37.269 --> 01:39.559 Gray , Deputy Commander 55th Wing and 01:39.569 --> 01:43.029 his wife Jessica . Colonel Tracy Bozo 01:43.349 --> 01:46.260 commander 55th medical group , chief 01:46.269 --> 01:48.180 master Sergeant , Ernesto Otero , 01:48.190 --> 01:50.400 senior enlisted leader , 55th medical 01:50.410 --> 01:52.580 group . Colonel Matthew Hansley , 01:52.589 --> 01:54.699 commander 55th communications group 01:55.510 --> 01:57.232 chief master sergeant , Daniel 01:57.232 --> 01:59.288 Rodriguez , senior enlisted leader , 01:59.288 --> 02:01.650 55th communications group and Colonel 02:01.660 --> 02:04.489 Derek Rachel commander 55th Operations 02:04.500 --> 02:07.970 Group and his wife Jennifer , Colonel 02:07.980 --> 02:11.080 Patrick Kes Kalic , sorry , commander 02:11.089 --> 02:13.470 55th mission support group , chief 02:13.479 --> 02:15.368 master Sergeant , John Splinter , 02:15.368 --> 02:18.119 senior enlisted leader 55th mission 02:18.130 --> 02:20.550 support group , Colonel Wendy Squash 02:20.610 --> 02:23.809 commander 1/70 group , Nebraska Air 02:23.820 --> 02:27.190 National Guard . Colonel John 02:27.960 --> 02:29.904 Isacco , incoming commander , 55th 02:29.904 --> 02:32.419 Operations Group . Colonel Joe Spivey 02:32.429 --> 02:34.540 United States Air Force , retired and 02:34.540 --> 02:37.009 president of the 55th Wing Association 02:37.190 --> 02:39.190 and his guest , Colonel John Cooper 02:39.190 --> 02:41.079 United States Air Force , retired 02:41.479 --> 02:43.910 Colonel Mohan Krishna United States Air 02:43.919 --> 02:46.350 Force , retired and chief master 02:46.360 --> 02:48.610 sergeant , Aaron Gerard commander , 02:48.619 --> 02:50.508 command , first Sergeant , United 02:50.508 --> 02:52.563 States Strategic Command , Air Force 02:52.563 --> 02:54.786 Element , senior enlisted leader and Mr 02:54.786 --> 02:56.786 Chris Canada , vice chairman of the 02:56.786 --> 02:59.490 board Air and Space Association . We 02:59.500 --> 03:01.339 would also like to extend a warm 03:01.350 --> 03:03.572 welcome to all commanders , directors , 03:03.572 --> 03:05.461 civilian leaders , chiefs , first 03:05.461 --> 03:07.406 sergeants , friends and families , 03:07.406 --> 03:09.461 community partners , and the men and 03:09.461 --> 03:11.683 women of Team Offett who are joining us 03:11.683 --> 03:10.130 today . 03:18.199 --> 03:20.421 Ladies and gentlemen , please stand for 03:20.421 --> 03:22.643 the arrival of the official party . The 03:22.643 --> 03:24.866 presentation of colors by the Air Force 03:24.866 --> 03:26.977 Base Honor Guard , the singing of the 03:26.977 --> 03:29.032 national anthem by Master Sergeant , 03:29.032 --> 03:31.032 Rachel Wilson and the invocation by 03:31.032 --> 03:30.539 chaplain Jensen . 03:57.039 --> 03:58.039 Oh , 04:02.380 --> 04:03.380 what 04:20.980 --> 04:21.609 colors ? 04:30.950 --> 04:34.549 Oh , say ? Can you see 04:34.559 --> 04:38.279 by the dawn's early light ? 04:38.290 --> 04:42.260 What so proud we hail 04:42.390 --> 04:46.029 at the twilight's last gleaming 04:46.049 --> 04:48.720 whose broad stripes and bright 04:48.730 --> 04:52.609 stars eyes 04:52.619 --> 04:56.279 fight or those parts 04:56.290 --> 04:58.709 we watched were so 04:59.700 --> 05:01.920 gently streaming 05:12.220 --> 05:15.600 one night that our flag was 05:15.609 --> 05:19.390 still there . Oh , say , does 05:19.399 --> 05:21.329 that star spangled ? 05:23.529 --> 05:27.089 It was or the 05:31.049 --> 05:31.510 and 05:36.359 --> 05:38.589 a what 06:12.589 --> 06:14.367 we continue with the invocation 06:16.549 --> 06:19.429 almighty and eternal God . You provide 06:19.440 --> 06:21.829 for all of our needs of body and soul , 06:21.839 --> 06:24.239 including the blessing of good leaders 06:24.269 --> 06:26.640 for which all praise and thanks are due 06:26.649 --> 06:29.769 to you . Thank you for Colonel Clement , 06:29.779 --> 06:32.290 his leadership and his service to our 06:32.299 --> 06:35.540 nation , bless him and his family as he 06:35.549 --> 06:38.600 retires and begins this new chapter and 06:38.609 --> 06:40.649 prosper , the good work that he has 06:40.660 --> 06:43.799 done . Thank you also for Colonel 06:43.809 --> 06:46.170 Fetters who is assuming command , bless 06:46.179 --> 06:48.410 him and his family and care for them , 06:48.540 --> 06:51.619 grant him wisdom and strength as he 06:51.630 --> 06:55.040 leads bless and prosper the work of our 06:55.049 --> 06:58.049 hands so that our nation is defended 06:58.070 --> 07:01.079 our homes , secure and righteousness is 07:01.089 --> 07:03.089 maintained . Amen . 07:19.279 --> 07:21.501 Thank you off at Air Force Base . Honor 07:21.501 --> 07:23.446 Guard Sergeant Wilson and chaplain 07:23.446 --> 07:25.612 Jensen . Ladies and gentlemen , please 07:25.612 --> 07:24.640 be seated . 07:30.720 --> 07:32.498 It is an honor to introduce our 07:32.498 --> 07:34.831 presiding officer , Colonel Mark Howard , 07:34.831 --> 07:36.053 Commander , 55th Wing 07:43.839 --> 07:47.279 Kyle . Two years ago , I walk in your 07:47.290 --> 07:51.149 office and Laurie confirmed this is 07:51.160 --> 07:53.820 true . There is 55 07:54.529 --> 07:57.070 military uniforms in his office and I'm 07:57.079 --> 07:59.890 not saying any military uniforms , 07:59.899 --> 08:03.809 these uniforms are on display on 08:03.820 --> 08:06.420 mannequins in his office . And I 08:06.429 --> 08:09.329 thought to myself , man , this guy is 08:09.339 --> 08:10.019 unique . 08:13.299 --> 08:15.690 And then I got to know you , I got to 08:15.700 --> 08:17.940 learn about you and , and I learned , 08:18.839 --> 08:21.660 man , this is 34 years of military 08:21.670 --> 08:23.726 service for you y'all . He's been in 08:23.726 --> 08:27.239 command five times . That's also pretty 08:27.250 --> 08:29.940 unique . Not many of us have worn the 08:29.950 --> 08:32.061 command pin that many times . Command 08:32.061 --> 08:35.169 is a stressful job . There's a lot to 08:35.179 --> 08:37.640 it , a lot you're responsible for 08:38.530 --> 08:39.309 unique 08:42.419 --> 08:44.539 and you took over this outfit 08:46.799 --> 08:49.320 from a unique perspective . It was in a 08:49.330 --> 08:52.719 unique spot . We'll just say we weren't 08:52.729 --> 08:54.729 doing so hot at that point when you 08:54.729 --> 08:56.969 showed up . And here's a couple of 08:56.979 --> 09:00.840 things that contributed . We were , 09:00.849 --> 09:03.289 we were in a spot where we have the 09:03.299 --> 09:07.299 lowest number of tail available in 09:07.309 --> 09:10.690 quite a while yet . We have more 09:10.700 --> 09:13.859 responsibility now to produce 09:13.869 --> 09:16.539 effects , to deter our adversaries than 09:16.549 --> 09:19.960 ever before . So you had an uphill 09:19.969 --> 09:21.969 challenge , my friend when you took 09:21.969 --> 09:24.136 over this unit and it was a little bit 09:24.136 --> 09:26.302 like a tug of war because not only did 09:26.302 --> 09:29.349 you have to convince our friends in 09:29.359 --> 09:31.415 Greenville and some of them are here 09:31.415 --> 09:33.637 today with a big safari crew to , to do 09:33.637 --> 09:35.748 the right thing and help us out where 09:35.748 --> 09:37.859 we could and you managed through that 09:37.859 --> 09:39.970 relationship to give us more aircraft 09:39.970 --> 09:43.809 availability . You really did . And 09:43.820 --> 09:45.876 then I don't know if everybody knows 09:45.876 --> 09:47.931 this , but everybody here knows this 09:47.931 --> 09:49.820 and everybody scoops knows this . 09:49.820 --> 09:49.809 There's sometimes a little bit of 09:49.820 --> 09:51.987 friction between ops and maintenance . 09:51.987 --> 09:54.153 You gotta give me a plane so I can fly 09:54.153 --> 09:56.640 it , right ? But man , brother , you 09:56.650 --> 09:58.960 really did manage this relationship 09:58.969 --> 10:01.260 between the operations group and the 10:01.270 --> 10:03.840 maintenance group in such a way that 10:03.849 --> 10:06.900 that tension really eased and they had 10:07.880 --> 10:10.619 so much aircraft availability . That's , 10:10.630 --> 10:12.019 it's pretty staggering . 10:14.159 --> 10:16.549 So I , I wanna give you credit for 10:16.559 --> 10:19.580 something , man . And it's how much we 10:19.590 --> 10:22.140 deeply appreciate you and how much this 10:22.150 --> 10:24.539 maintenance group here representative , 10:24.549 --> 10:26.605 right ? It's much bigger than this . 10:26.605 --> 10:29.169 Appreciate . You . Hit an all time 10:29.179 --> 10:32.320 record . You guys of 10 years , 10:33.190 --> 10:35.357 we haven't done this in 10 years . The 10:35.357 --> 10:37.523 aircraft availability rate that he was 10:37.523 --> 10:39.579 able to convince his team to produce 10:39.579 --> 10:41.746 for this operations group staggering . 10:41.746 --> 10:43.968 Can we give him a round of applause for 10:43.968 --> 10:43.450 that ? I know that's kind of 10:43.640 --> 10:47.409 non-standard but absolutely 10:47.419 --> 10:50.650 incredible work and the teamwork that 10:50.659 --> 10:54.070 you brought to this outfit , we , we 10:54.080 --> 10:56.302 could never repay you and thank you for 10:56.302 --> 10:58.413 your 34 years of service . And I just 10:58.413 --> 11:00.524 want to mention we'll be back in here 11:00.524 --> 11:02.580 tomorrow for your retirement . And I 11:02.580 --> 11:02.109 want to say something about , about , 11:02.119 --> 11:04.380 about you . That's pretty special in 34 11:04.390 --> 11:06.279 years . He's met a lot of general 11:06.279 --> 11:08.223 officers . I know Laurie knows and 11:08.223 --> 11:10.223 Logan , you know , too , he's known 11:10.223 --> 11:12.112 lots of really famous people that 11:12.112 --> 11:14.223 anybody could have been here , but he 11:14.223 --> 11:17.979 chose Wendy . Wendy is the 11:17.989 --> 11:20.590 1/7 group commander from Nebraska Air 11:20.599 --> 11:22.840 National Guard . Now that says a lot 11:22.849 --> 11:26.159 about your character and how much TF I 11:26.409 --> 11:28.510 total force integration means to you 11:28.520 --> 11:30.576 that you would choose her to do your 11:30.576 --> 11:32.742 retirement , man . You're an honorable 11:32.742 --> 11:34.853 guy . You are a unique guy . You will 11:34.853 --> 11:38.049 be sorely missed . And uh man , I'll 11:38.059 --> 11:40.530 never forget those mannequins . That 11:40.539 --> 11:42.706 was a wild experience . What is this ? 11:42.706 --> 11:46.549 Alright , Ken . Hey man , in this 11:46.559 --> 11:49.250 group , this is pretty special . What's 11:49.260 --> 11:52.099 happening here ? You are not inheriting 11:52.109 --> 11:54.929 only kin , but I want to introduce you 11:54.940 --> 11:57.429 to Alina . Now you guys make sure and 11:57.440 --> 11:59.849 check out her jewelry . I've never seen 11:59.859 --> 12:01.970 anything like it and you guys will be 12:01.970 --> 12:03.970 so proud . You're like , oh , she's 12:03.970 --> 12:06.192 from us . She's cut from the cloth from 12:06.192 --> 12:08.280 us and I just to brag on her just a 12:08.289 --> 12:12.090 little bit more 51 moves 12:12.099 --> 12:15.190 as a military individual and that's 12:15.200 --> 12:17.229 starting from your parents on and 12:17.239 --> 12:19.350 there's probably more than 51 is what 12:19.350 --> 12:22.510 I'm hearing mom say . Pretty incredible . 12:22.669 --> 12:24.989 She's dedicated and she is the 12:25.000 --> 12:27.090 foundation in the rock and what upon 12:27.099 --> 12:30.349 which Ken stands and it is here today . 12:30.359 --> 12:32.581 Now , Ken , I want to tell you a little 12:32.581 --> 12:34.470 bit about this outfit . You got a 12:34.470 --> 12:36.581 little bit for your parents to do and 12:36.581 --> 12:38.803 your family here and said , is she on , 12:38.803 --> 12:41.039 is she on uh Facebook live with us over 12:41.049 --> 12:43.169 here ? A NZ net ? Peggy ? Thank you 12:43.179 --> 12:45.109 guys . You guys are in now . The 12:45.119 --> 12:47.175 aircraft availability rate of United 12:47.175 --> 12:49.869 Airlines isn't quite as , as our fleet . 12:50.010 --> 12:52.460 So , and that Peggy couldn't make it 12:52.469 --> 12:54.247 here unfortunately , for United 12:54.247 --> 12:57.429 Airlines . Sorry , but we're , we're 12:57.440 --> 12:59.662 giving you a shout out here . Uh I want 12:59.662 --> 13:01.607 to tell you a little bit about our 13:01.607 --> 13:03.884 fleet because it's kind of complicated . 13:03.884 --> 13:03.880 We got a plane that flies through 13:03.890 --> 13:07.510 radioactive clouds on purpose . We got 13:07.520 --> 13:10.739 another one that watches tests of 13:10.750 --> 13:13.469 international ballistic missiles , 13:13.479 --> 13:15.440 intercontinental ballistic missile 13:15.450 --> 13:17.979 tests on purpose . We watch those . We 13:17.989 --> 13:20.000 got another one that if you want to 13:20.010 --> 13:22.232 know anything there is to know about an 13:22.232 --> 13:24.066 enemy radar , you fly that plane 13:24.066 --> 13:26.232 against that enemy radar . And then we 13:26.232 --> 13:28.454 got this one right here . Now , this is 13:28.454 --> 13:30.621 the one I grew up on , this is 848 and 13:30.621 --> 13:32.788 this is a rivet joint . Now , this one 13:32.788 --> 13:35.599 finds bad guys and tells good guys 13:35.609 --> 13:37.760 where the bad guys are not just any 13:37.770 --> 13:40.369 time but fast , that's gonna be more 13:40.380 --> 13:42.158 critical than ever . And we are 13:42.158 --> 13:44.049 developing tactics techniques and 13:44.059 --> 13:46.115 procedures like you've never seen in 13:46.115 --> 13:48.170 the history of the world off of this 13:48.170 --> 13:50.281 plane right here that you're going to 13:50.281 --> 13:52.337 produce , to tell the adversary that 13:52.337 --> 13:54.448 today is not the day to mess with the 13:54.448 --> 13:57.770 United States of America . That plane 13:57.780 --> 13:59.669 right there , as a matter of fact 13:59.669 --> 14:02.190 caught fire at one time , big hole in 14:02.200 --> 14:05.929 the fuselage , the 848 . And between 14:05.940 --> 14:08.950 us and Greenville we got it fixed and 14:08.960 --> 14:11.016 we are still finding it . It looks a 14:11.016 --> 14:13.071 little bit old on the outside . It's 14:13.071 --> 14:15.238 been around for a while . It's six Gen 14:15.238 --> 14:17.293 on the inside . Ken . And the reason 14:17.293 --> 14:19.293 we're able to perform is because of 14:19.293 --> 14:21.182 these humans right here and these 14:21.182 --> 14:23.071 people are people you can trust , 14:23.330 --> 14:26.190 guarantee you invest in your 14:26.200 --> 14:28.422 maintenance group and they will produce 14:28.422 --> 14:30.589 the mission that our nation requires . 14:31.190 --> 14:33.929 We're glad to have you on board , Ken . 14:33.940 --> 14:36.051 I think you're ready . Kyle . I think 14:36.051 --> 14:38.273 you're ready . Let's turn over the keys 14:38.273 --> 14:40.162 of this Lamborghini . All right . 14:51.679 --> 14:53.901 Thank you , Colonel Howard . Ladies and 14:53.901 --> 14:55.901 gentlemen , please stand as Colonel 14:55.901 --> 14:57.957 Howard presents Colonel Clement with 14:57.957 --> 14:57.539 the legion of merit medal . 15:02.059 --> 15:04.250 10 orders . Colonel Robert K Clement 15:04.260 --> 15:06.427 distinguished himself by exceptionally 15:06.427 --> 15:08.593 meritorious conduct in the performance 15:08.593 --> 15:10.649 of outstanding service to the United 15:10.649 --> 15:12.704 States as Commander 55th Maintenance 15:12.704 --> 15:14.927 Group 55th Wing off at Air Force Base , 15:14.927 --> 15:17.309 Nebraska from 24 June 2022 to 30 15:17.320 --> 15:20.000 September 2024 . During this period , 15:20.010 --> 15:22.390 the exemplary ability , diligence , and 15:22.400 --> 15:24.400 devotion to duty of Colonel Clement 15:24.400 --> 15:26.233 were instrumental factors in the 15:26.233 --> 15:28.400 resolution of many complex problems of 15:28.400 --> 15:30.511 major importance to the air force and 15:30.511 --> 15:32.622 our nation . A dedicated maintainer . 15:32.622 --> 15:35.090 He master masterfully directed the air 15:35.099 --> 15:38.159 force's sole RC 135 maintenance group 15:38.169 --> 15:41.280 consisting of 200 personnel and air 15:41.289 --> 15:43.067 combat command's largest wing , 15:43.330 --> 15:45.320 executing 1600 intelligence , 15:45.330 --> 15:47.219 surveillance and reconnaissance , 15:47.219 --> 15:49.386 nuclear command and control and treaty 15:49.386 --> 15:51.330 verification operations throughout 15:51.330 --> 15:53.330 eight combatant commands , a gifted 15:53.330 --> 15:55.052 leader . Colonel Clement keyed 15:55.052 --> 15:57.163 innovation , steering the maintenance 15:57.163 --> 15:59.108 group through the culmination of a 15:59.108 --> 16:01.619 grueling 18 month , $144 million runway 16:01.630 --> 16:04.510 replacement . He oversaw the relocation 16:04.520 --> 16:06.710 of 29 aircraft support equipment and 16:06.719 --> 16:09.489 800 airmen driving the execution of a 16:09.500 --> 16:12.070 $110 million flying hour program . 16:12.239 --> 16:15.140 60,000 maintenance tasks and 1800 16:15.150 --> 16:17.390 sorties reducing the operations group 16:17.400 --> 16:21.260 training backlog . 34% . Moreover , 16:21.270 --> 16:23.214 Colonel Clement championed diverse 16:23.214 --> 16:25.381 international partnerships solidifying 16:25.381 --> 16:27.548 the second ever United Kingdom . Rivet 16:27.548 --> 16:30.530 joint iso chronicle inspection and the 16:30.539 --> 16:32.372 inaugural maintenance technician 16:32.372 --> 16:35.309 exchange program . Cultivating the 1946 16:35.320 --> 16:38.309 5 eyes Alliance . His leverage 16:38.320 --> 16:40.542 facilitated the maintenance training of 16:40.542 --> 16:42.598 25 Royal Air Force airmen saving the 16:42.598 --> 16:45.940 United Kingdom $750,000 in inspection 16:45.950 --> 16:49.000 and repair cost . A process benchmarked 16:49.010 --> 16:51.121 by the office of the Secretary of the 16:51.121 --> 16:53.010 Air Force International Affairs . 16:53.010 --> 16:55.066 Finally , he oversaw the only flying 16:55.066 --> 16:57.200 aerospace ground equipment program in 16:57.210 --> 16:59.154 the Air Force where his leadership 16:59.154 --> 17:01.489 synchronized 9000 National Airborne 17:02.280 --> 17:05.339 Operation Center hours . 1100 missions 17:05.550 --> 17:07.661 directed by the chairman of the joint 17:07.661 --> 17:10.479 chiefs of staff and seven presidents , 17:10.489 --> 17:12.800 seven presidents of the United States 17:12.810 --> 17:14.910 directed missions . The singularly 17:14.920 --> 17:17.087 distinctive accomplishments of Colonel 17:17.087 --> 17:18.698 Clement culminate a long and 17:18.698 --> 17:20.864 distinguished career in the service of 17:20.864 --> 17:22.920 his country and reflect great credit 17:22.920 --> 17:25.031 upon himself in the United States Air 17:25.031 --> 17:24.479 Force . 17:51.750 --> 17:53.972 Thank you , Colonel Howard . Ladies and 17:53.972 --> 17:56.194 gentlemen , please take your seats . It 17:56.194 --> 17:58.083 is my honor to present to you the 17:58.083 --> 18:00.417 commander of the 55th Maintenance Group . 18:00.417 --> 17:59.939 Colonel Robert K Clement . 18:07.280 --> 18:09.447 I've got a justice on you so I hope it 18:09.447 --> 18:12.859 didn't mess you up later . Hey , good 18:12.869 --> 18:15.091 morning , good morning . Good morning . 18:15.091 --> 18:17.202 Good morning . What a fantastic day . 18:17.202 --> 18:19.560 This is in the 55th wing , the best 18:20.040 --> 18:23.719 combat wing in Air Combat command . The 18:23.729 --> 18:25.896 only United States Air Force Wing with 18:25.896 --> 18:27.979 continuous operations maintenance , 18:27.989 --> 18:30.810 aircraft presence in the United States 18:30.819 --> 18:32.986 Central command area of responsibility 18:33.099 --> 18:34.859 since operation Desert Storm . 18:37.449 --> 18:39.790 Today is a beautiful day . It's clear , 18:40.979 --> 18:43.090 it's not too hot like it has been the 18:43.090 --> 18:46.239 past couple of days . My favorite part 18:46.250 --> 18:48.949 are zero , quiet hours . The sound of 18:48.959 --> 18:50.626 freedom could be heard in the 18:50.626 --> 18:52.792 background . I hope you love this just 18:52.792 --> 18:55.310 as much as I do . It's a great day to 18:55.319 --> 18:58.250 be a part of the fight in 55th . Our 18:58.260 --> 19:01.079 national anthem singer Maser Rachel 19:01.089 --> 19:04.849 Wilson . Thank you and maintainer . 19:04.859 --> 19:07.150 Thank you . And our chaplain , Captain 19:07.160 --> 19:09.619 Jensen . Thank you . Thank you for the 19:09.630 --> 19:13.260 inspirational words . Honor guard . As 19:13.270 --> 19:15.381 always , I think they've already left 19:15.381 --> 19:17.103 the room but they crushed it . 19:17.859 --> 19:20.192 Lieutenant Eli Brown . Where are you at ? 19:23.579 --> 19:26.449 Well done . Today's change of command 19:26.459 --> 19:28.626 project officer . He did not get fired 19:30.300 --> 19:32.356 very well done . I know you're gonna 19:32.356 --> 19:35.010 have an exceptional career . God bless 19:35.020 --> 19:38.910 you in all of your endeavors . Good 19:38.920 --> 19:40.099 day to all , sir . 19:42.729 --> 19:46.260 Carl Gray Chrom Bozone , 19:46.520 --> 19:49.089 Tracy Coles 19:50.930 --> 19:53.349 Matt , Colonel Hensley , Colonel Rachel 19:53.359 --> 19:57.290 Derek Squash , Wendy 19:58.319 --> 20:01.469 Kurt . Thank you for being here . S 20:01.729 --> 20:04.770 commanders chiefs for sergeants , men 20:04.780 --> 20:07.113 and women of the 55th maintenance group , 20:07.729 --> 20:10.459 family and friends . Thank you for 20:10.469 --> 20:12.469 attending . I'd like to recognize a 20:12.469 --> 20:14.358 very special guest of Colonel Ken 20:14.358 --> 20:16.580 Fetter , his wife , Elena . Thank you . 20:16.580 --> 20:18.691 Thank you for being here . I would be 20:18.691 --> 20:20.747 remiss without recognizing my family 20:20.747 --> 20:22.880 heading from the deep south in the 20:22.890 --> 20:25.319 great state of Alabama . Miss Jody 20:25.329 --> 20:28.569 Sharp and her son , Jacob Sharp , and 20:28.579 --> 20:32.540 most importantly , my arm candy 20:34.040 --> 20:37.290 and wife of nearly 30 years , 20:39.770 --> 20:41.937 my youngest Logan , a senior at Baylor 20:41.939 --> 20:43.995 University Texas and he's looking to 20:43.995 --> 20:45.828 make his own way as a mechanical 20:45.828 --> 20:47.995 engineer . Thank you for being here to 20:47.995 --> 20:49.995 honor the completion of my family's 20:49.995 --> 20:52.161 last tour , celebrating this milestone 20:52.161 --> 20:54.040 that has spanned five decades of 20:54.050 --> 20:56.300 service in our nation's Air Force 20:56.449 --> 20:58.671 beginning at the end of the Cold War in 20:58.671 --> 21:01.790 1989 . A period that is eerily similar 21:02.229 --> 21:04.451 to the geopolitical tension between the 21:04.451 --> 21:06.507 United States and the Soviet Union . 21:06.507 --> 21:09.430 This was East versus West back in 1947 . 21:10.780 --> 21:12.836 Today , we continue to honor our Air 21:12.836 --> 21:14.780 Force service by sharing this deep 21:14.780 --> 21:17.030 rooted military uh traditional ceremony 21:17.229 --> 21:19.451 in the Benny Davis Maintenance Facility 21:19.451 --> 21:21.340 here in DOC one . I am so blessed 21:21.340 --> 21:23.507 you're here . I want to call attention 21:23.507 --> 21:26.000 to the large US flags behind me forever . 21:26.010 --> 21:28.121 Shall she wave as a beacon of freedom 21:28.560 --> 21:30.004 that Sergeant Karnowski , 21:32.439 --> 21:35.949 he ensured this flag was clean and 21:35.959 --> 21:38.609 serviceable . His team also improved 21:38.619 --> 21:40.452 his presentation by removing the 21:40.452 --> 21:42.619 topmost barrier so you can see all the 21:42.619 --> 21:45.020 stars they were hiding on the upper row . 21:45.369 --> 21:48.109 In chief Splitter . Thank you for 21:48.119 --> 21:50.286 taking your own time to come down here 21:50.286 --> 21:52.397 to make sure our flag is able to roll 21:52.397 --> 21:55.050 up and down ensuring unsung you guys 21:55.060 --> 21:57.004 are unsung airman . So thank you . 21:57.004 --> 21:59.227 Thank you for making uh this ceremony . 21:59.227 --> 22:01.699 Special change of commands are 22:01.709 --> 22:04.160 bittersweet , saying goodbye to the 22:04.170 --> 22:06.589 unit people , the airmen , the leaders 22:06.599 --> 22:08.710 maintainers . I've shared this trench 22:08.710 --> 22:10.932 with for the past two years , we fought 22:10.932 --> 22:13.099 loyally . We fought violently together 22:13.099 --> 22:15.155 in the fighting 55th . Never did our 22:15.155 --> 22:18.050 core values falter never did our faith 22:18.060 --> 22:20.319 waver over the past two years . We've 22:20.329 --> 22:22.619 slogged it out with our professional L 22:22.630 --> 22:24.963 three Harris partners , Ron . Thank you , 22:25.750 --> 22:28.319 Ron . Thank you and our big safari 22:28.329 --> 22:31.250 teammates again . Kurt , thank you in 22:31.260 --> 22:33.380 the 6 45th aeronautical aeronautical 22:33.390 --> 22:35.723 system squadron and group at Greenville . 22:36.459 --> 22:39.020 It was no easy task keeping the RJ , 22:39.030 --> 22:41.252 the cobra ball , the scent , the ball , 22:41.252 --> 22:44.579 the WC , the T CS as the most in demand 22:44.770 --> 22:46.659 and on demand fleet in the United 22:46.659 --> 22:48.770 States Air Force and the pride of Air 22:48.770 --> 22:50.770 Combat command . But we did it with 22:50.770 --> 22:52.992 style and we did it with flair . During 22:52.992 --> 22:55.048 my first year in command , the group 22:55.048 --> 22:57.159 had just arrived or just survived the 22:57.159 --> 22:59.159 1000 year flood and we finally beat 22:59.159 --> 23:01.300 back the COVID virus . The pandemic 23:01.310 --> 23:04.530 left a mark on everybody . However 23:04.540 --> 23:06.596 COVID and the post recovery were not 23:06.596 --> 23:08.810 our biggest challenges or hurdles . We 23:08.819 --> 23:10.986 crushed the 18 month experiment called 23:10.986 --> 23:13.208 Lincoln ops at the Air National Guard's 23:13.208 --> 23:15.375 1 55th air refueling wing in Lincoln , 23:15.375 --> 23:17.375 Nebraska . During off its extensive 23:17.375 --> 23:19.486 runway closure , our combat ready and 23:19.486 --> 23:22.060 vigilant RC 135 maintainers enabled the 23:22.069 --> 23:24.291 wings critical command control missions 23:24.291 --> 23:27.449 and pivotal ISR missions , intelligence , 23:27.459 --> 23:29.237 surveillance and reconnaissance 23:29.239 --> 23:31.959 missions to go on without missing a 23:31.969 --> 23:34.729 beat all the while this Ford operating 23:34.739 --> 23:38.380 location just far enough 23:39.130 --> 23:41.839 to be austere . The mission was on the 23:41.849 --> 23:43.960 backs of our maintainers enabling the 23:43.960 --> 23:46.071 extensive repair of the runway . Even 23:46.071 --> 23:47.960 during the last six months of the 23:47.960 --> 23:50.127 repair . This group that stands in the 23:50.127 --> 23:52.071 center of this hangar , they never 23:52.071 --> 23:54.016 faltered . They drove home station 23:54.016 --> 23:53.910 aircraft authority generation from 23:53.920 --> 23:56.260 Lincoln where history was recorded . 23:58.609 --> 24:02.390 You generated 1800 sorties 9000 24:02.400 --> 24:04.459 flying hours providing owner u user 24:04.469 --> 24:08.449 security for over 240,000 hours . All 24:08.459 --> 24:12.250 backstops by 19,000 round trip . 24:12.260 --> 24:15.989 Greyhound bus rides amassing 1.2 24:16.000 --> 24:19.800 million road miles . Our Lincoln 24:19.810 --> 24:21.810 ops challenge was equivalent to the 24:21.810 --> 24:23.979 proverbial David and Goliath narrative 24:24.199 --> 24:26.310 where the maintenance group conquered 24:26.310 --> 24:28.699 the giant meeting five of our 11 AC C 24:28.709 --> 24:30.542 air combat command maintenance , 24:30.542 --> 24:32.542 metrics . Once again , proving long 24:32.542 --> 24:34.598 term deployed ops requires boundless 24:34.598 --> 24:37.849 efforts . Much sacrifice and true 24:37.859 --> 24:40.750 resilience . We not only combated 24:41.219 --> 24:43.819 parts and other logistical constraints , 24:43.829 --> 24:46.051 we also experienced less aircraft touch 24:46.051 --> 24:48.079 time due to just the sunk , transit 24:48.089 --> 24:51.069 time , sitting on buses . We fought for 24:51.079 --> 24:53.689 and shared access of two hangars at 24:53.699 --> 24:57.469 Lincoln . That's where the KC 130 24:57.479 --> 24:59.646 fives were based and we had to , every 24:59.646 --> 25:01.868 day , we had to coordinate to make sure 25:01.868 --> 25:04.035 we could . It was just like working at 25:04.035 --> 25:06.189 deployed ops yet we were at home . On 25:06.199 --> 25:08.199 top of this , we executed the Wings 25:08.199 --> 25:10.329 annual flying program fighting Mother 25:10.339 --> 25:14.150 Nature . She angrily shook her fist at 25:14.160 --> 25:17.810 us to an unprecedented 17 full fleet 25:17.819 --> 25:21.140 weather flush evacuations no matter 25:21.150 --> 25:23.206 what was thrown at us . We generated 25:23.206 --> 25:25.206 sorties and executed this mission . 25:25.206 --> 25:27.094 Miraculously still , Lincoln , we 25:27.094 --> 25:29.261 worked around the annual Sports Car of 25:29.261 --> 25:31.317 America Car Show and in concert with 25:31.317 --> 25:33.317 the 45th even retired . The first , 25:33.317 --> 25:35.869 even retired the final small motor WC 25:35.880 --> 25:39.339 135 tail number 2667 ushering in a new 25:39.349 --> 25:41.959 era for the WC 4836 . 25:43.160 --> 25:46.420 On top of that , we had to plan our own 25:46.530 --> 25:49.310 ceremony where a four star General 25:49.319 --> 25:51.390 General Kelly , the Comet of AC C 25:51.400 --> 25:53.511 performed the ribbon cutting ceremony 25:54.819 --> 25:58.329 and with any crucible lessons are 25:58.339 --> 26:01.589 learned , some are new , some harshly 26:01.599 --> 26:04.660 old were repeated . But we emerged , 26:04.670 --> 26:06.837 Lincoln , we emerged from Lincoln with 26:06.837 --> 26:09.579 our heads held high in a newfound 26:09.589 --> 26:12.699 skyrocketing morale and hope for better 26:12.709 --> 26:16.270 days to come . Our group , a 26:16.280 --> 26:19.369 total force integrated TF I unit is 26:19.380 --> 26:21.949 extremely blessed to have fantastic air 26:21.959 --> 26:24.469 National Guard members whom we work 26:24.479 --> 26:26.646 with every day . They help us lead the 26:26.646 --> 26:29.150 way and set the example . We're 26:29.160 --> 26:31.382 together , we climbed into the calendar 26:31.382 --> 26:33.270 year 2023 exceeding eight of 11 26:33.280 --> 26:35.630 maintenance metrics following a return 26:36.459 --> 26:39.839 to back to normal , whatever that meant 26:40.900 --> 26:44.400 in off it in October 22 I say that back 26:44.410 --> 26:46.632 to normal because what does that really 26:46.632 --> 26:48.632 mean ? Most of the maintainers that 26:48.632 --> 26:50.949 were here have never stepped foot on 26:50.959 --> 26:53.089 the off it runway until that official 26:53.099 --> 26:55.099 ribbon cutting ceremony , we had to 26:55.099 --> 26:58.439 redefine what normal looked like . This 26:58.449 --> 27:01.280 was the challenge rendered and dare I 27:01.290 --> 27:04.770 say a challenge met . So we move 27:04.780 --> 27:06.891 forward , pushing for maintenance ops 27:06.891 --> 27:08.891 scheduling business rules , working 27:08.891 --> 27:11.002 with my partner in the OG demanding a 27:11.002 --> 27:12.780 consistent weekly turn scheme , 27:12.780 --> 27:14.558 enabling predictable and stable 27:14.558 --> 27:16.558 aircraft generation , put TT TT TPS 27:16.558 --> 27:18.724 back on the table . Well , we couldn't 27:18.724 --> 27:20.891 have done without you , man , couldn't 27:20.891 --> 27:23.113 have done it . Whereas that date , this 27:23.113 --> 27:25.169 effort has reduced daily flail 24 07 27:25.170 --> 27:27.660 changes which happened almost around 27:27.670 --> 27:29.650 the clock where we've realized the 27:29.660 --> 27:31.329 tangible flying effectiveness 27:31.339 --> 27:33.540 scheduling rate that has at times been 27:33.550 --> 27:35.619 a cap standard , for example , in 27:35.630 --> 27:38.479 December of 23 we beat the rate by 3% 27:38.849 --> 27:40.905 and that's attributed to people like 27:40.905 --> 27:43.238 Catherine Creel standing in front of me , 27:43.238 --> 27:45.405 our business rule innovation led us to 27:45.405 --> 27:47.660 try new ideas . We even developed new 27:47.670 --> 27:49.670 procedures for a thing called rapid 27:49.670 --> 27:51.726 cruise swaps . Like , what is that ? 27:51.989 --> 27:54.589 Well , we , we tried something new to 27:54.599 --> 27:56.821 get after flying more sorties . We also 27:56.821 --> 27:58.988 got a got after new procedures working 27:58.988 --> 28:01.359 with K at the depot for expedited 28:01.369 --> 28:03.719 acceptance inspections where now we 28:03.729 --> 28:05.562 begin the post depot maintenance 28:05.562 --> 28:07.729 delivery and buy back of each aircraft 28:07.729 --> 28:09.562 while it's still at Greenville , 28:09.562 --> 28:11.618 reducing aircraft down downtime from 28:11.618 --> 28:13.340 four days to one . During this 28:13.340 --> 28:15.699 innovation RJ 4132 returned to off it 28:15.709 --> 28:19.250 on 4 May 23 . She flew two local 28:19.260 --> 28:21.427 flights and then was off the Nellis in 28:21.427 --> 28:23.316 support of Wiant where the 3 43rd 28:23.316 --> 28:25.599 pushed 4132 to successfully fly 12 28:25.609 --> 28:27.540 sorties . And immediately after 28:27.550 --> 28:30.949 afterwards , straight in the Naval Air 28:30.959 --> 28:33.430 Station , Fallon Nevada to support 28:33.439 --> 28:35.660 resolute exercise . Resolute Hunter . 28:36.150 --> 28:37.983 We at the 3 43rd flew another 10 28:37.983 --> 28:40.349 sorties right out of depot . 28:42.150 --> 28:44.209 Unlike many units , the 55th wing is 28:44.219 --> 28:46.219 perpetually deployed all around the 28:46.219 --> 28:48.108 world from supporting exercises . 28:48.108 --> 28:50.163 You've already heard me mention from 28:50.163 --> 28:52.219 Wiz red flag . Resolute Hunter , the 28:52.219 --> 28:54.386 standing up a new detachment in Alaska 28:54.386 --> 28:56.552 to the UK , Greece , the Middle East , 28:56.552 --> 28:56.479 as well as a little known island of 28:56.489 --> 28:58.656 Diego Garcia and never letting up into 28:58.656 --> 29:00.822 the Pacific Theater where our fleet of 29:00.822 --> 29:04.709 27 Strategic RC 135 S national assets 29:05.130 --> 29:08.069 are always in demand . And in this new 29:08.079 --> 29:10.135 world order , we cannot and will not 29:10.135 --> 29:12.412 bow or give ben a need to China Russia , 29:12.412 --> 29:14.439 Iran , North Korea or any enemy 29:14.449 --> 29:17.959 terrorist in terrorist guys following 29:17.969 --> 29:20.247 the lead of RJ 4132 . We quick , quick , 29:20.247 --> 29:22.025 quick turn to one of our newest 29:22.025 --> 29:24.339 aircraft WC 4836 . Immediately 29:24.349 --> 29:26.293 supporting 10 secretary of Defense 29:26.293 --> 29:28.405 missions to include our first South . 29:28.405 --> 29:30.738 South col baseline air sampling sorting , 29:30.900 --> 29:34.140 enforcing the 1963 partial nuclear ban 29:34.150 --> 29:37.250 treaty , test ban treaty . This quick 29:37.260 --> 29:40.390 turn on WC 4836 was our first , less 29:40.400 --> 29:42.456 than 10 day acceptance inspection in 29:42.456 --> 29:46.219 over 57 years . And on March 29:46.229 --> 29:50.199 3rd , 2023 we famously recorded our 29:50.209 --> 29:53.030 flawless black letter er for folks in 29:53.040 --> 29:55.207 the room that don't know that's called 29:55.207 --> 29:57.207 an exceptional release on RJ 4841 . 29:58.040 --> 29:59.979 This aircraft showing zero 30:00.219 --> 30:02.699 discrepancies and here's a quote , it 30:02.709 --> 30:04.931 says you don't see that very often even 30:04.931 --> 30:06.931 in some of the newest aircraft that 30:06.931 --> 30:06.810 I've been that have been delivered in 30:06.819 --> 30:08.920 the past 5 to 10 years said retired 30:08.930 --> 30:11.152 Major General Rick Evans , a former Air 30:11.152 --> 30:13.319 force navigator and wing commander who 30:13.319 --> 30:15.263 heads the University of Nebraska's 30:15.263 --> 30:17.097 Strategic Institute . And for me 30:17.097 --> 30:20.540 personally , I've only seen two , 30:22.079 --> 30:24.135 I may have 34 years in the service , 30:24.135 --> 30:26.357 but only 29 are in aircraft maintenance 30:26.357 --> 30:28.079 and in my 29 years of aircraft 30:28.079 --> 30:30.190 maintenance , I've seen two . So it's 30:30.190 --> 30:32.246 important to know that neither China 30:32.246 --> 30:34.357 nor Russia is going to hide from this 30:34.357 --> 30:37.459 fleet . We are ensuring no fail . ISR 30:37.469 --> 30:40.790 missions are always overhead , watching , 30:41.079 --> 30:43.619 listening and reporting aggression . 30:44.160 --> 30:46.160 Our health of the fleet metrics are 30:46.160 --> 30:48.049 standing the test of time and our 30:48.049 --> 30:50.160 operational success can be attributed 30:50.160 --> 30:52.327 to both Greenville and off its quality 30:52.327 --> 30:52.199 of maintenance efforts where our 30:52.209 --> 30:55.260 metrics , the stats are some of the 30:55.270 --> 30:57.270 best reported numbers in over seven 30:57.270 --> 30:59.381 years . Everyone in this group can to 30:59.381 --> 31:01.437 that our fiscal year mission capable 31:01.437 --> 31:03.437 fiscal year to date mission capable 31:03.437 --> 31:05.859 rate of 76.1 is above the AC C standard 31:06.060 --> 31:08.282 A standard that's hard to just meet for 31:08.282 --> 31:10.910 one month , let alone nine months . 31:11.689 --> 31:13.689 It's important to give credit where 31:13.689 --> 31:15.911 credit is due . All of our stats can be 31:15.911 --> 31:17.967 attributed to our group's unwavering 31:17.967 --> 31:20.189 quality of maintenance , hardline focus 31:20.189 --> 31:22.133 and everyone being a multi capable 31:22.133 --> 31:24.270 airman or just doing your job is not 31:24.280 --> 31:26.920 enough . Given our aircraft 31:26.930 --> 31:29.097 availabilities , we continue as we are 31:29.097 --> 31:31.097 continually in demand , we're still 31:31.097 --> 31:33.319 crushing our annual flying hour program 31:33.400 --> 31:35.930 and endless operational Taskings we're 31:35.939 --> 31:37.995 executing well above our annual plan 31:37.995 --> 31:39.883 simultaneously recording the best 31:39.883 --> 31:42.106 attrition rate while flying the highest 31:42.106 --> 31:44.729 utilization rate seen in 10 years . The 31:44.739 --> 31:47.000 ball , the sy the RJ , the WC , the TC 31:47.010 --> 31:49.349 are healthy , they're primed and ready 31:49.359 --> 31:51.248 to take the fight to our nation's 31:51.248 --> 31:53.869 enemies wherever they may be . 31:55.180 --> 31:57.402 And as we finish out our fiscal year 24 31:57.402 --> 31:59.736 final hour program , the 55th wing boss , 31:59.736 --> 32:03.160 you're on track to Shaq your program 32:04.109 --> 32:07.310 to further get after ace and MC A which 32:07.319 --> 32:09.486 drives our daily so generation . We've 32:09.486 --> 32:11.652 worked hand in glove with our partners 32:11.652 --> 32:13.708 in supply . So Patrick , thank you . 32:13.708 --> 32:17.329 Where's what Patrick ? Thank you hand 32:17.339 --> 32:19.395 in glove with our partners in supply 32:19.395 --> 32:21.283 and the depot creating additional 32:21.283 --> 32:23.400 highly specialized big safari A two M 32:23.609 --> 32:25.720 kits to sustain our fleet , enhancing 32:25.720 --> 32:28.199 aircraft availability . These mobile 32:28.209 --> 32:31.479 part stores are the engine that allows 32:31.489 --> 32:33.711 our nation to check the great powers of 32:33.711 --> 32:36.069 China and Russia and never taking a 32:36.079 --> 32:38.349 knee . I was exceedingly , I was never 32:38.359 --> 32:40.581 more proud of this maintenance group in 32:40.581 --> 32:42.581 May of 23 during the wing readiness 32:42.581 --> 32:44.803 evaluate exercise evaluation called the 32:44.803 --> 32:47.949 rev where the wing received top marks 32:47.959 --> 32:50.126 from air combat command inspectors due 32:50.126 --> 32:52.130 to our amazing airmen in stellar 32:52.140 --> 32:54.418 aircraft generation employment efforts . 32:55.050 --> 32:57.930 As soon as the rev ended , we rolled 32:57.939 --> 33:00.161 right into a unit evaluation inspection 33:00.161 --> 33:02.300 ue I just another , I'll call wire 33:02.310 --> 33:04.209 brush compliance inspection from 33:04.219 --> 33:06.619 inspectors in the maintenance group 33:07.339 --> 33:10.619 received near flawless inspection 33:10.630 --> 33:13.719 results . We've overcome elusive brakes 33:13.729 --> 33:16.430 on the aircraft such as WCS 4840 one's 33:16.439 --> 33:19.010 locks , vent valve that went one hangar 33:19.020 --> 33:21.390 queen . We fought through Co Ball 2663 33:21.400 --> 33:23.567 S hard landing where it went cat two . 33:24.209 --> 33:25.987 In addition to supporting every 33:25.987 --> 33:28.439 exercise in October 23 we even noticed 33:28.449 --> 33:31.089 we even did a no notice additional to 33:31.229 --> 33:33.979 oil to the supported national tasking 33:34.150 --> 33:37.420 that flew at surge rates and the beat 33:37.430 --> 33:39.810 keeps going . However , through all the 33:39.819 --> 33:42.400 flail , the plums and Taskings we 33:42.410 --> 33:44.521 always found ways to leave Offutt Air 33:44.521 --> 33:48.050 Force Base better than we found it . We 33:48.060 --> 33:49.949 continually focused on connecting 33:49.949 --> 33:52.116 airmen to the mission , a mission that 33:52.116 --> 33:54.338 conversely took care of our airmen . We 33:54.338 --> 33:56.449 established programs like Rey for the 33:56.449 --> 33:58.282 day and a robust airmen for life 33:58.282 --> 34:02.189 program . Where's Mark Mark and Janice 34:02.430 --> 34:05.630 are true north providers and yes , 34:05.640 --> 34:07.918 believe it or not . We have a dog desi , 34:07.918 --> 34:10.084 we have a , we have a therapy dog in a 34:10.084 --> 34:12.307 group . Thank you for what you guys did 34:12.307 --> 34:14.529 as well as our NFL keeping our youngest 34:14.529 --> 34:16.760 maintainers , keeping them healthy , 34:16.860 --> 34:18.860 getting after basic life skills and 34:18.860 --> 34:21.027 self care . And just last month , we , 34:21.027 --> 34:23.580 we reinvigorated our DC C program 34:23.590 --> 34:25.646 unveiling a new uniform for our crew 34:25.646 --> 34:27.757 chiefs as well as aircraft heritage . 34:27.757 --> 34:29.923 We pushed to have a unique anniversary 34:29.923 --> 34:32.146 nozar added to our aircraft in one case 34:32.146 --> 34:34.368 to commemorate the centennial of Offett 34:34.368 --> 34:36.649 Air Force off field Air Force Base 1924 34:36.659 --> 34:40.510 to 2024 . Where last month RC 135 34:40.520 --> 34:43.620 64 4842 was christened 34:45.030 --> 34:47.129 with its unique 55th wing markings . 34:47.139 --> 34:49.306 Soon to be followed by the ops group . 34:50.898 --> 34:53.379 Come in your way . We're gonna have 34:53.389 --> 34:55.389 unique markings on your aircraft in 34:55.389 --> 34:57.445 your squadron commanders , names and 34:57.445 --> 35:00.659 unit colors looking after our team . 35:03.209 --> 35:05.209 I don't think Justin mcintyre is in 35:05.209 --> 35:07.265 here but would like to thank a shout 35:07.265 --> 35:09.431 out to a S uh we even opened up a 24 7 35:09.431 --> 35:11.542 grab and go Vindy food option here in 35:11.542 --> 35:13.709 the building . As well as a cross from 35:13.709 --> 35:15.987 this hangar is a place called Dock Six . 35:15.987 --> 35:18.042 Will be a made to order bistro where 35:18.042 --> 35:20.153 next week we'll be serving up some of 35:20.153 --> 35:22.209 the best food in Omaha right here in 35:22.209 --> 35:24.209 this building . Even as we find new 35:24.209 --> 35:26.376 ways to care for our maintainers , our 35:26.376 --> 35:28.376 work is never done . Depot Jets are 35:28.376 --> 35:30.431 delivered such as 8484 last November 35:30.431 --> 35:32.376 and the final WC in December . I'm 35:32.376 --> 35:34.376 excited , so excited to see how our 35:34.376 --> 35:36.542 heritage is taking root in the group . 35:36.542 --> 35:38.542 Our D CCS have a new , new , unique 35:38.542 --> 35:40.542 opportunity to create new nozar for 35:40.542 --> 35:42.765 these aircraft and the aircraft are yet 35:42.765 --> 35:44.987 to come . We put up new heritage murals 35:44.987 --> 35:47.699 in the hallway and in our world class 35:47.709 --> 35:50.239 training classrooms . It's an amazing 35:50.250 --> 35:53.020 time to be in the 55th wing . As 35:53.030 --> 35:54.863 mentioned , our country has many 35:54.863 --> 35:56.808 enemies , some old , some new thus 35:56.808 --> 35:58.974 making alliance is even more important 35:58.974 --> 36:01.141 to our national survival . Not only is 36:01.141 --> 36:04.090 every airman and every 135 on this ramp 36:04.100 --> 36:06.156 precious to honing our combat edge , 36:06.156 --> 36:08.211 finding innovative , innovative ways 36:08.211 --> 36:10.433 like those rapid crew swaps and believe 36:10.433 --> 36:12.489 it or not , we can even do hot pits 36:12.800 --> 36:15.022 have been a and that was done in Milton 36:15.022 --> 36:18.060 Hall have been bottom up , bottom up 36:18.070 --> 36:20.639 driven ideas from our airmen from our 36:20.649 --> 36:22.760 enlisted core here in the maintenance 36:22.760 --> 36:24.816 group . The 55th maintenance group , 36:24.816 --> 36:27.600 enlisted airmen are the very envy of 36:27.610 --> 36:30.290 every Air Force I'd like to take a 36:30.300 --> 36:32.169 moment to high light one more 36:32.179 --> 36:34.290 accomplishment that over the past two 36:34.290 --> 36:36.235 years , the 55th wing continues to 36:36.235 --> 36:38.457 aggressively work with AC C and UAE and 36:38.457 --> 36:40.568 the staff the 6 45th to integrate and 36:40.568 --> 36:42.623 cultivate a co-operative maintenance 36:42.623 --> 36:44.735 effort with the Royal Air Force , the 36:44.735 --> 36:46.679 RAF where just a few months ago to 36:46.679 --> 36:48.735 mirror the ops group that we got the 36:48.735 --> 36:50.735 idea from bull , just try trying to 36:50.735 --> 36:52.568 follow a great lead . We finally 36:52.568 --> 36:54.679 attained a near 100% progress between 36:54.679 --> 36:56.901 our nation's rivet joint fleets to work 36:56.901 --> 36:59.068 with our British maintainers in direct 36:59.068 --> 37:01.235 hands on reciprocal manner . What that 37:01.235 --> 37:03.401 means is we work on their aircraft and 37:03.401 --> 37:05.623 they can work on ours for those who are 37:05.623 --> 37:07.846 unaware . The RAF has been an unrivaled 37:07.846 --> 37:07.739 partner with our Air Force ever since 37:07.949 --> 37:10.005 Billy Mitchell met Hugh Trenchard at 37:10.005 --> 37:11.893 his headquarters in France in the 37:11.893 --> 37:14.171 spring of 1917 . Through these efforts , 37:14.171 --> 37:16.227 the 55th maintenance group builds on 37:16.227 --> 37:19.879 this legacy of air power . Sir . 37:21.229 --> 37:23.229 You and Brigadier general select KT 37:23.229 --> 37:25.580 Thompson had a pool of talented 37:25.590 --> 37:29.050 colonels to choose from . I hope you 37:29.060 --> 37:32.370 witness my strong sustainment focus 37:33.300 --> 37:35.189 across the four continents , four 37:35.189 --> 37:37.260 continents . This wing operates at I 37:37.270 --> 37:39.548 did my best to take care of the airmen . 37:39.548 --> 37:41.548 My team provided the wing of safe , 37:41.770 --> 37:44.810 reliable aircraft . Always safe and 37:44.820 --> 37:48.699 reliable was never in question and we 37:48.709 --> 37:50.709 prepare for the future of replacing 37:50.709 --> 37:52.931 these airmen that departed by producing 37:52.931 --> 37:54.987 more combat trained warriors for our 37:54.987 --> 37:57.550 five divers flying missions , sir . 37:57.560 --> 37:59.671 Thank you for entrusting me with this 37:59.671 --> 38:01.616 opportunity to take on the world's 38:01.616 --> 38:05.189 toughest job in our air force . With 38:05.199 --> 38:06.921 this closure , it's been three 38:06.921 --> 38:09.800 squadrons , four groups . 38:11.010 --> 38:14.419 I left it on the field . No 38:14.429 --> 38:15.060 regrets 38:18.489 --> 38:20.656 commanding the 55th major . This group 38:20.656 --> 38:23.110 has been my greatest honor in honor 38:23.120 --> 38:24.953 that few colonels can understand 38:28.159 --> 38:30.103 to the men and women of the matrix 38:30.103 --> 38:32.215 group . Know that our nation needs us 38:32.215 --> 38:35.419 and needs you . Provide excellence in 38:35.429 --> 38:37.979 all you do . I saw nothing less from 38:37.989 --> 38:40.100 you than remarkable achievements in a 38:40.100 --> 38:42.045 can do attitude that never tired , 38:42.045 --> 38:45.760 faltered or faded . Our group's 38:45.770 --> 38:48.620 success hinged upon service before self , 38:49.110 --> 38:51.250 your service provide proved vital to 38:51.260 --> 38:54.239 the success of our nation's air force , 38:54.250 --> 38:56.417 to the defense of all Americans and to 38:56.417 --> 38:58.361 the survival of our constitutional 38:58.361 --> 39:00.472 republic . Thank you for all you have 39:00.472 --> 39:00.370 done and even more so , thank you for 39:00.379 --> 39:02.909 what you will do in the future to the 39:02.919 --> 39:06.560 commander chiefs and shirts . I wish 39:06.590 --> 39:08.590 you all the best as you continue to 39:08.590 --> 39:10.534 take care of the maintainers , the 39:10.534 --> 39:12.868 airmen , the civilians and their family , 39:12.868 --> 39:12.590 taking care of each other is a way of 39:12.600 --> 39:15.149 life . I'm proud to have been part of 39:15.159 --> 39:18.870 your lives and your service . Colonel 39:18.879 --> 39:21.979 Fetters Ken , welcome . 39:23.719 --> 39:25.608 You are the right officer to take 39:25.608 --> 39:27.830 command of the 55th Maintenance group . 39:27.830 --> 39:29.775 You bring a diverse and successful 39:29.775 --> 39:31.830 background of operational experience 39:31.830 --> 39:33.941 from your service as well . Welcome . 39:33.941 --> 39:35.997 Welcome . You and your family to the 39:35.997 --> 39:38.052 fighting 55th and congratulations on 39:38.052 --> 39:40.108 your command . Please accept my best 39:40.108 --> 39:42.919 wishes as you and Alina lead this group 39:42.939 --> 39:46.060 into the future as Lieutenant General 39:46.070 --> 39:48.070 Wedge Wegman once charged me as his 39:48.070 --> 39:50.489 former AM XS commander in 2010 , 1 of 39:50.500 --> 39:53.949 my last charges to you would be lead on 39:53.959 --> 39:57.860 Ken lead on finally to my family . 39:59.419 --> 40:01.475 Thank you for always having my six , 40:01.780 --> 40:04.002 ensuring this crazy air Force life with 40:04.002 --> 40:07.719 me . To my most awesome wife , I could 40:07.729 --> 40:10.919 not have picked better arm candy to 40:10.929 --> 40:12.985 Logan . I'm so happy you got a break 40:12.985 --> 40:15.449 from Baylor to be here today . Keep 40:15.459 --> 40:19.149 crushing engineering . Thank you all 40:19.159 --> 40:21.159 for honoring my family with today's 40:21.159 --> 40:23.048 ceremony . And if you're able , I 40:23.048 --> 40:24.992 invite you to attend my retirement 40:24.992 --> 40:27.510 ceremony tomorrow . Closing out 34 40:27.520 --> 40:30.139 years , three months , 40:31.040 --> 40:31.989 21 days , 40:37.070 --> 40:38.792 Captain Creel , take charge of 40:38.792 --> 40:38.770 formation 40:52.739 --> 40:55.919 are also you don't work . 41:01.399 --> 41:01.909 What a 41:07.750 --> 41:10.719 it down meat is 41:29.360 --> 41:31.540 flowers . Colonel Clement will now 41:31.550 --> 41:33.717 present his wife Laurie with flowers . 41:48.530 --> 41:50.197 Thank you , Colonel Clement . 41:52.520 --> 41:54.742 Ladies and gentlemen , please stand for 41:54.742 --> 41:56.576 the change of command ceremony . 42:07.199 --> 42:08.866 Attention to orders under the 42:08.866 --> 42:10.977 provisions of air force instruction . 42:10.977 --> 42:14.899 51-604 . General order 14-11 . 42:15.030 --> 42:16.863 By order , Colonel Mark Howard , 42:16.863 --> 42:19.139 commander 55th wing Colonel Robert com 42:19.439 --> 42:21.500 commander 55th Maintenance Group 42:21.510 --> 42:23.566 relinquish his command . And Colonel 42:23.566 --> 42:25.677 Kenneth Fetter assumes command of the 42:25.677 --> 42:27.989 maintenance group effective this 27th 42:28.000 --> 42:30.610 day of June 2024 . 43:00.870 --> 43:01.889 So let me . 43:18.270 --> 43:20.603 Ladies and gentlemen , please be seated . 43:21.659 --> 43:23.800 It is my pleasure to introduce to you 43:23.810 --> 43:25.921 the commander of the 55th Maintenance 43:25.921 --> 43:27.921 Group . Colonel Kenneth H Fetters . 43:38.389 --> 43:40.500 Good morning , everyone and welcome . 43:41.479 --> 43:43.800 Thank you , Colonel Howard for placing 43:43.810 --> 43:46.040 your trust in me to lead the men and 43:46.050 --> 43:48.217 women of the fighting 55th Maintenance 43:48.217 --> 43:52.169 Group . Honorable Lambert , Colonel 43:52.179 --> 43:54.012 Gray , fellow group commanders , 43:54.012 --> 43:56.270 squadron commanders , chiefs and the 43:56.280 --> 43:58.439 men and women of the 55th Maintenance 43:58.449 --> 44:01.149 Group . Thank you for being here this 44:01.159 --> 44:04.199 morning . I also want to thank everyone 44:04.209 --> 44:06.042 in the 55th Maintenance Group in 44:06.042 --> 44:08.300 General's Row for the warm welcome and 44:08.310 --> 44:10.879 special mud room surprises that you 44:10.889 --> 44:14.280 have given me and Alina . A big thanks 44:14.290 --> 44:16.340 out to Lieutenant Brown and Master 44:16.350 --> 44:18.580 Sergeant Raja for arranging today's 44:18.590 --> 44:20.810 ceremony . I have done a few of these 44:20.820 --> 44:22.820 in my career and I know they're not 44:22.820 --> 44:25.290 easy . Good job . 44:26.830 --> 44:28.719 Thank you Sergeant Wilson for the 44:28.719 --> 44:30.830 national anthem . That was absolutely 44:30.830 --> 44:32.790 beautiful . And uh thanks Chaplain 44:32.800 --> 44:36.419 Jensen for the invitation . I'd 44:36.429 --> 44:38.596 first like to acknowledge a family who 44:38.596 --> 44:40.780 are no longer with us to my sister , 44:40.790 --> 44:44.139 Darla . I know you would have loved to 44:44.149 --> 44:46.093 be here today . You were always my 44:46.093 --> 44:47.649 biggest fan and enjoyed the 44:47.649 --> 44:49.889 opportunities to travel to my newest 44:49.899 --> 44:53.860 assignments . Mum , I know 44:53.870 --> 44:56.037 you would have tried your best to come 44:56.037 --> 44:58.540 to another exotic location like 44:58.550 --> 45:01.860 mountain home Idaho . But I bet you 45:01.870 --> 45:03.759 never would have thought you'd be 45:03.759 --> 45:06.389 traveling to Nebraska and dad . You're 45:06.399 --> 45:08.566 always proud of my military career . I 45:08.566 --> 45:11.199 would love to see Nebraska or at least 45:11.209 --> 45:13.320 enjoy the pictures . I think you made 45:13.320 --> 45:16.729 it . My brother in law , Kevin , my 45:16.739 --> 45:19.050 first military friend who would later 45:19.060 --> 45:21.949 become my brother in law . So just to 45:21.959 --> 45:24.070 note to all the military members , be 45:24.070 --> 45:26.181 careful who you introduce your sister 45:26.181 --> 45:29.169 to . I know you would have tried your 45:29.179 --> 45:32.189 best to be here today . I want to say 45:32.199 --> 45:34.255 thank you to our daughters , Mia and 45:34.255 --> 45:36.429 Marissa for supporting me through the 45:36.439 --> 45:38.328 long hours , many moves and a few 45:38.328 --> 45:40.679 deployments . I'm immensely proud of 45:40.689 --> 45:42.911 both of them and I wish they could have 45:42.911 --> 45:45.389 been here today to those who are with 45:45.399 --> 45:48.429 us today . Chris Taian Seth , thank you 45:48.439 --> 45:50.439 so much for taking the trip up from 45:50.439 --> 45:52.495 Oklahoma City . Your support means a 45:52.495 --> 45:55.010 great deal to me and Alina John and 45:55.020 --> 45:58.610 Leila , mom and dad . Thank you 45:58.739 --> 46:00.850 for all the support you have given me 46:00.850 --> 46:03.017 throughout my career and thank you for 46:03.017 --> 46:05.128 raising the perfect military spouse . 46:06.729 --> 46:08.951 Thank you , Colonel Howard for giving a 46:08.951 --> 46:11.062 shout out to an ZT and Aunt Peggy and 46:11.062 --> 46:14.080 like he said , United's MC rate is well 46:14.090 --> 46:17.389 below ours . Alina , 46:18.129 --> 46:20.296 thank you for being my partner through 46:20.296 --> 46:22.351 the many assignments and raising our 46:22.351 --> 46:24.407 family through it all . We're a team 46:24.479 --> 46:26.646 and I would not be on this stage today 46:26.646 --> 46:28.812 if it wasn't for your love and support 46:28.812 --> 46:30.979 and encouragement to do the best I can 46:30.979 --> 46:33.179 each day to the men and women of the 46:33.189 --> 46:35.889 55th Maintenance Group what a time to 46:35.899 --> 46:37.455 serve our United States and 46:37.455 --> 46:39.540 specifically the United States Air 46:39.550 --> 46:42.110 Force . We will see one of the most 46:42.120 --> 46:44.830 significant changes our Air Force has 46:44.840 --> 46:47.199 ever went through as we prepare for 46:47.209 --> 46:49.479 great power competition . And I am 46:49.489 --> 46:51.719 confident that this platform will 46:51.729 --> 46:54.739 remain a key factor in planning and 46:54.750 --> 46:57.350 it's all of you who have kept and will 46:57.360 --> 47:00.010 keep the mission of protecting and 47:00.020 --> 47:01.520 defending our nation going 47:03.889 --> 47:07.879 met Kyle Amazing tour . It 47:07.889 --> 47:10.111 is my prayer that I can continue in the 47:10.111 --> 47:13.479 framework to which you have laid every 47:13.489 --> 47:16.370 job I'd had in every unit . My main 47:16.379 --> 47:18.409 goal was to leave it better than I 47:18.419 --> 47:21.090 found it . You mentioned that in your 47:21.100 --> 47:23.810 speech , you have clearly done that 47:24.050 --> 47:25.929 Kyle job well done . 47:28.159 --> 47:30.103 I want to thank all those who I've 47:30.103 --> 47:32.437 served with throughout these many years . 47:32.437 --> 47:34.603 I have learned so much from everyone I 47:34.603 --> 47:36.826 interacted with and been confident that 47:36.826 --> 47:38.715 my career would be much different 47:38.715 --> 47:40.881 without their dedication and support . 47:40.881 --> 47:42.770 I've been through many changes of 47:42.770 --> 47:44.992 commands , many military ceremonies and 47:44.992 --> 47:48.629 retirements . And each 47:48.639 --> 47:52.149 time the speaker thanked all those who 47:52.159 --> 47:54.103 he served with sometimes I used to 47:54.103 --> 47:56.215 think , I think that's just something 47:56.215 --> 47:58.437 you have to put in there . But when you 47:58.437 --> 48:01.030 stand on this stage , that statement 48:01.040 --> 48:03.250 becomes a reality and is never true 48:03.260 --> 48:05.371 today than it has been any time in my 48:05.371 --> 48:08.590 career that I am who I am today . For 48:08.600 --> 48:10.600 all those I have served with in the 48:10.600 --> 48:14.179 past . Finally , I'm going to thank God 48:14.189 --> 48:16.300 for all the talents and skills he has 48:16.300 --> 48:18.578 given me throughout my life and career . 48:18.578 --> 48:21.129 And every day I'm reminded of the words 48:21.139 --> 48:24.520 in John 15 5 without him , I can do 48:24.530 --> 48:27.020 nothing . Me and Alina have always 48:27.030 --> 48:29.252 trusted his leading in every assignment 48:29.252 --> 48:31.308 and we look forward to the blessings 48:31.308 --> 48:33.500 and new friendships he has waiting for 48:33.510 --> 48:37.149 us as part of the fighting 55th . Thank 48:37.159 --> 48:38.159 you . 48:54.209 --> 48:55.209 Yeah . 49:03.050 --> 49:04.050 Yeah . 49:07.479 --> 49:10.689 Sorry . Well , Colonel Fetters will now 49:10.699 --> 49:12.810 present his wife Elena with flowers . 49:27.639 --> 49:29.306 Thank you , Colonel Fetters , 49:35.399 --> 49:37.610 ladies and gentlemen , the men and 49:37.620 --> 49:39.842 women of the 55th Maintenance group are 49:39.842 --> 49:41.731 proud to have served with Colonel 49:41.731 --> 49:43.731 Clement and wish him and his family 49:43.731 --> 49:45.564 good luck and God speed . We are 49:45.564 --> 49:47.787 honored to have Colonel Fetters and his 49:47.787 --> 49:47.750 family as he assumes his position as 49:47.760 --> 49:50.139 commander of the 55th Maintenance Group . 49:50.580 --> 49:52.747 We invite everyone to attend reception 49:52.747 --> 49:54.802 immediately following in the back of 49:54.802 --> 49:57.169 the venue . Please stand and join us 49:59.810 --> 50:01.921 and remain standing for the departure 50:01.921 --> 50:03.699 of the official party and their 50:03.699 --> 50:05.866 families . We ask that everyone please 50:05.866 --> 50:07.810 remain in place until the official 50:07.810 --> 50:07.919 party and their families have departed .