Final words from the Chief: 'Thank you for the inspiration'

by Staff Sgt. Amber R. Kelly-Herard
Air Mobility Command Public Affairs

1/31/2014 - SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill.  -- A 19-year-old man, bagging groceries for $4 an hour and his new wife, expecting their first child, joined the Air Force, unknowing he'd become the Air Mobility Command command chief master sergeant.

Thirty years later, Chief Master Sgt. Richard "Andy" Kaiser, retired Jan. 17, here.

"A heartfelt thank you to each of our amazing Airmen, and I wish I could hug them all for what they have done and will continue to do. We are so proud of them!" said Kaiser to all Mobility Airmen. "Remember we are Airmen first and specialists second and always embody the core values. Celebrate with your teammates what we as Airmen do, because we enable America to be America."

The chief's bride, Debbie also had some words to pass on.

"To our Mobility spouses and families, thank you so much for your love and support you provided to your Airmen," she said. "The sacrifices they make daily working long hours and uncertainty about the future, these are all huge stressors, but our spouses and families cope with that amazingly well. You are some of the finest Americans alive today and I would also give you all a hug."

The command chief, who has advised the AMC commander on enlisted issues for more than 100,000 Mobility Air Forces Airmen, sums his 2-and-a-half-year tenure as "inspiring."

"The opportunity to rub elbows with MAF Airmen--hopefully encourage them and inspire them--and see them in action was incredibly inspiring," said the Columbus, Ohio, native.

Kaiser said an example of this happened every time he went to deployed locations. He recounted one trip where he departed Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, on a C-17 configured for an aeromedical evacuation flight. The aeromedical evacuation crews and aircrews synchronized perfectly to care for wounded warriors all the way to Germany.
Then, when he left Ramstein Air Base, Germany, on the same C-17, it was be reconfigured to transport military equipment.

Another inspiring mission for the chief was to observe the Joint Precision Air Drop System that brings mission critical supplies to ground troops who would otherwise starve or get overrun without airdrop.

"There are just so many moments of inspiration, it was incredible," said Kaiser.
"Most Airmen doing these amazing things will say they're just doing their job, with their characteristic humble spirit," the chief continued. "Those willing to work hard and live the core values will have amazing opportunities open for them."

Kaiser explained plain old hard work and strong support from his leaders and fellow Airmen is how he made chief.

"The Air Force provides additional opportunity for service and higher responsibility, often at a higher rank, for those Airmen who prove themselves by duty performance," said Kaiser. "Shortly after I was promoted to chief, a group commander, named Col. Fred Ryder, gave me the opportunity to serve as a group superintendent, and I was blessed with several command chiefs who mentored me early on. By God's grace, I was afforded additional opportunities to serve, and Debbie and I will always cherish these amazing experiences."

Now that his journey has ended, Kaiser describes the feeling as surreal.

"Is this really happening?" he said. "It's kind of like when you become a father and you realize, 'Holy Cow, I'm going to be a dad!' It is surreal."

After retirement, his "uniform" changed to civilian clothes, but he is still the same.

"I'm an Airman first and then a chief," said Kaiser. "My military status changed to 'retired", but my heart is the same."

"Debbie and I always wanted to retire near an Air Force base, so we bought a house in O'Fallon, Ill., to be able to serve Airmen in any way possible. We hope to host Airmen and families who are new to the Air Force and help them acclimate to their new environment. We also hope to help those transitioning from the Air Force, whether they be separating or retiring."

Finally, the chief said, "Thirty years goes by a lot faster than you would imagine, so make the most of every day professionally and personally. We have been so blessed by so many folks over these three decades, and we hope everyone serving will likewise experience amazing opportunities. It has been a true joy and honor for Debbie and I to serve."