 We welcome you to the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Changing Command Ceremony. I'm technical sergeant Daniel Vasquez, and I'm your narrator for today's ceremony. On behalf of the Commander, 9th Air Force, Lieutenant General Gregory Guille, the Assistant Deputy Commander, 9th Air Force, Major General Clark Quinn, as the Presiding Officer for today's ceremony. The Changing Command Ceremony is an American military tradition, deeply rooted in history. It dates back to 3 July, 1775, when General George Washington drew his sword under an elm tree in Canada's Massachusetts to assume command with the consulate's army. During their American Revolution, military units carried distinctive flags designed to match the colors of their uniforms and emblazoned with the model selected by the commander. When soldiers followed their leader in the battle, this flag was provided a highly visible point around which members of the unit could rally during the pandemonium battle. Because of its importance, the flag was used in the consulate's army's earliest changing command ceremonies. The organization's banner was exchanged in full view so every soldier can see the officer now entrusted to lead them into battle. The model ceremony is principally symbolic, yet it still announces to all the authority of the incoming commander. Serving as the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Commander since July 2021, Colonel Clinton M. Wilson will be retiring after 24 years and 5 months of service in the United States Air Force, affected 1 November 2022. Colonel George M. Buck Jr. recently concluded a tour as the Director of Safety for Headquarters United States Air Forces and Europe and Africa located at Randstein Air Force Base, Germany. The service histories are outlined in your program. We would now like to welcome our distinguished visitors and attendees today. Please hold your applause until all are announced. Chargé de Affaires, U.S. Embassy Kuwait, Mr. James Holtzner. Assistant Deputy Commander of Operations, 35th Infantry Division. Brigadier General Jason Nelson and Command Sergeant Major, 35th Infantry Division. Command Sergeant Major Stephen Stunkle. Senior Defense Official and Defense Outsager, U.S. Embassy Kuwait. Brigadier General Darren Slayton and his wife, Mrs. Dawn Reed Slayton. Commander, Canadian Joint Task Force Impact, Brigadier General Wade Rutland. General Amid Azmi, Kuwait Air Force Retire, and his daughter, Dr. Ramya Azmi. Honorary Commander, 386 Air Expeditionary William, Mr. Saleh Al-Ali, Advisor to the Amir. We also extend a warm welcome to all our host nation guests, joint coalition partners, directors, commanders, senior enlisted leaders, first sergeants, special guests, and especially the men and women of the 386 Air Expeditionary William and attendees for today's ceremony. The official party will erupt shortly, but before they do, I will review the customs and courtesies for today's ceremony. This is an indoor ceremony. Therefore, military members must render the appropriate customs and courtesies. Throughout the duration of today's ceremony, veterans may stand on attention during the Plain of the National Anthems and civilian guests who may join us by placing the right hand over their arm. Please stand for the arrival of the official party, the Plain of Roughness and Flourishes, the Presentation of the Colors, the Singing of the United States National Anthem, and the Plain of the Kuwait National Anthem. Following the Kuwait National Anthem, we invite you to remain standing for the invocation delivered by Chapter Lumber. Barrett Expeditionary, the stove on hand, the courage, and we ask for your blessing over here. Thank you, Armando. And as such, ladies and gentlemen, it is my distinct pleasure to introduce our presiding officer, the Assistant Deputy Commander of 9th Air Force, Major General Guillaume. I'm here on behalf of Lieutenant General Guillaume. I know the commander regrets that he can't be here in person today. He is very well aware of how important this event is. He's actually going to be getting on a airplane here in about two or three hours to head this direction. And if you saw his schedule this month, I think he's making four trips across the Atlantic, round trips, in about a 30-day period. I guarantee you would much prefer to be here right now than about to get on that airplane to head this direction. Changer Command is a, it's a momentous event. It's an opportunity to thank and acknowledge the achievements of Colonel Wilson. It's also an opportunity to get a first look at Colonel Buck as he takes the, the guide on and leaves this wing for the next year. At the same time, it's a chance to reflect back and relish upon your representing him today. So let me start by thanking the team that put this, you will see a few of them, the narrator, the prophet of the national anthem, the honor guard, but there is a lot more. If you were here for the rehearsal, you'd see the number of folks it takes to put this event on, on behalf of Colonel Wilson and General Beo, thank you to all of you. I will say also that I volunteered when I got off the airplane to sing the national anthem and Colonel Wilson said, you know, I got somebody for that. Don't worry, I think he's going to be better than you, and he was right. So I'm glad he didn't take me up on that. So again, thanks to all that put this on. A special welcome to many of the folks in the front row here, Mr. Holtzner. Thank you for presenting as the charge here for the United States here in Kuwait. I had an opportunity to meet General Slade and the SDO, General Rutland, the Canadian JTF Commander. I did not get a chance to meet General Nelson and the Command Sergeant Major, but I know you're here. And I also had the opportunity to meet Mr. Saleh Ali. And for all of those that did not get the opportunity to meet and all of the gracious hosts here in the nation of Kuwait, thank you for being here today. I know your presence is appreciated by Colonel Wilson and Colonel Buck, and I'm certainly honored that you took the time to be here. For Colonel Wilson, it's been a year of war fighting, lots of transitions, lots of change, and I have no doubt that you're proud of what this wing did as well as you should be. Sir, you're going to look back on this time, as we know he's about to become retired at Colonel Wilson, but you're going to look back on this time as a truly rewarding assignment, and I think, as you just told me, your best assignment. And at the same time, Colonel Buck is joining us. He's been thoroughly prepared for this assignment, and we'll talk a little bit more about that, and I know he's eagerly awaiting this. So, I would like to recognize some of the people that should be in an event like this, but can't be based on where we are, and the time, and the differences in the travel. So, Clint, to your wife Haley, your son's peers, Spanish, Gage, and Reese, I'm certain that their encouragement has done a lot to get you where you are in your career and has been critical to your success. I'm also certain it's been a very demanding year for them with you out here. I ask you to please pass along my sincere appreciation and General Guido's appreciation for their support and our hope that this week's homecoming will just be an outstanding event for your family. During your time as the commander of this wing, you've encountered multiple scenarios that I would say can be considered once in a lifetime, and actually, it was really early in your time here. We'll talk a little bit about that as I go through, but throughout all of those different challenges and areas in your exhibited skill, decision making, and a steady hand, you kept the mission on track, and you took care of your government. They were always at the forefront of your mind. During your time here, you led over 7,600 joint coalitions, total force personnel as they executed operations and inherent resolve, Freedom Sentinel, Allies Refuge, Spartan Shield, Resolute Support Mission, collectively delivering 46,000 plus tons of cargo, 85,000 passengers conducted 21,000 hours of ISR, 7,500 sorties, and multiple airstrikes throughout that, and hopefully the passenger count will go up to at least 85,001 as they deliver me back to IED tonight. Your wing showcased its rapid employment capability as you organized over 800 flights in less than 17 days to evacuate 124,000 men, women, and children out of Afghanistan. I'm going to go a little bit off-strict, obviously I'm reading a bit, but I was a witness to that from afar. I was part of this organization, but I was stationed at Shaw Air Force Base primarily, and I saw what Quinn's Airmen and the Airmen at the other wings did from afar. You can talk about 124,000. The number doesn't really register until you think about, in a two-week period, that's like the entire traffic that ever goes through the Columbia, South Carolina airport in a year, and we did it in two weeks, collectively in this, I think it was, many of which came through here, but you also can't capture, and I can't put any words or read off the paper, is it's life-changing. People left behind everything, their livelihoods. They just got on an airplane with whatever they could carry, and sometimes all it was was their child that they were carrying, no clothes, nothing. They left behind their entire life, they got on an airplane, they trusted that they would be taken care of, and those thousands that transited through here were taken care of by Colonel Wilson and his team. It's, I would say, a once-in-a-generation, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and Quinn and the Airmen in this way just nailed it. You've done a lot outside of that. That was early in your time. I'm sure you're going to talk a little bit more about that. I'm going to throw some numbers down. Lots of construction, lots of projects, airfield construction, airfield maintenance, a new T-FAC, and a annex to the fitness center. You had multiple opportunities to execute a budget, and I will say that because I'm back at Shaw, I get to see things like who's spending the money. His weight was always leading the way in spending the money, and that sounds like it's important, but it's important because it means he's doing a great job of taking care of the airmen at this weight because if he's not spending that money, I'll tell you right now we're going to take it and we're going to spend it somewhere else. We never had the opportunity with this wing because he was always doing the right thing in building all those facilities and helping out with quality of life events here. Additionally, I was able to meet some of your international partners here, and you are a trusted international advisor for 9th Air Force, AFSAN and for General Guillaume. You foster critical relationships, and we talked about some of the senior leaders that are here today, and many of them actually participate in assisting this base operating support structure and execute all of those sorties that I just talked about. Your leadership was also critical to something General Guillaume refers to as the one room. The bottom line is if you're looking at small unmanned aerial systems, they are a threat. They are actually very hard to defeat. They sound small and something you could buy at Walmart for those of us from America, but they can be lethal, and they are difficult to defend against. And General Guillaume asked his wing commanders to get together a way to get better at it, and he combined multiple different functions into a single room to help defend the airmen in this base. All of that's a testament to your leadership and the airmen of the wing here. There's no question you made an indelible impact both here at the base and in multiple locations that I didn't mention to fall under your 387th group that are spread throughout the AOR. As you return home and get started on your retirement, I again want to thank Hayley, your sons for allowing us to borrow from you. It's never easy. You've been borrowed before away from them. We do understand the sacrifice. We appreciate it. Colonel Wilson is leaving the wing in the hands of the very capable airman, Colonel George Buck. I want to start just the way that I ended my comments with Colonel Wilson by thanking your children, George, Hayden and Sadie. There's nothing that I can say to let your children know how much we appreciate you coming out here and spending time in allowing us to borrow their father, but you were hand selected to lead this organization and we couldn't do it without you. I hope your kids are as proud as you as we all are as you take this important job. You're joining us as the narrator said from headquarters of United States Air Forces Europe and Air Forces Africa in Rammstein, Germany. You were the director of safety. You were on the other end of many of those places evacuating Afghan citizens from their homeland to the states and other nations. You're also an expert in mobility operations. You're a group commander in the AMOG, the Air Mobilities Office Group at Rammstein. You also work Global Mobility in the Pentagon and you commanded the 728 Air Mobility Squadron at Hinshelik in Turkey. Warfightings in your heritage. George Senior, his father, the retired Master Sergeant in the Air Force, brother and his brother's son, both Marines and Grandfathers and uncles served in World War II in Vietnam. The combination of that heritage and your resume, there's no doubt you're going to excel in this role. I'm also confident that under your leadership, this wing at the Theater Gateway will continue to deliver a world of that's air power. To the men and women of the wing, this region remains demanding. It remains dynamic. The United States and many of our coalition partners will be here to help assist in the stability and defense of this region and we will deter adversaries and we will take action to defeat them as the theater changes, there's one thing that will be constant and that is air power will be required. And although I can't predict the future, I am 100% confident that the team that's assembled here and all those that you represent will flawlessly execute whatever mission your nation asks of it. So it's about time to formalize and transfer the change of command from one leader to another. Colonel Wilson, thanks again, welcome, welcome to absent. Thank you also to all of you that are attending. I assume Colonel Wilson has a car, I don't know. I know he has a booked flight tonight and I think I've heard that he's going to become, take his funding burden to a different organization. Does that sound about right? Sure. And welcome again to you, George, to take the mantle. It's clearly time for me to stop talking so that one gentleman can get out of here and one gentleman can get into this great organization. Thank you all very much. Please stand for the presentation of the President of the United States. Attention to orders. Colonel Clinton M. Wilson distinguished himself by a sectionally meritorious condo and the performance of outstanding service to the United States as commander, 386 Ares Missionary Wing, and the Ocelain Mary Bates Kuwait from 1 July 2021 to 1 July 2022. In this important assignment, Colonel Wilson consistently demonstrated visionary leadership, exemplary foresight and ceaseless effort resulting in an impeccable execution of combat power across the United States Central Command's area of responsibility. Providing strategic vision and leadership, he guided over 6,000 airmen and civilians in four rotations to generate more than 7,000 intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance, tactical and strategic airlift, and precision strike missions in support of operations for air and resolve, freedom sentinel, and spotting ship. He directed airfield operations and sustained aircraft necessary for delivering 46,850 short tons of cargo, over 85,000 passengers, and enabled 21,000 intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance flight hours. Additionally, Colonel Wilson oversaw the tactical air control party and joint terminal attack control missions against Daesh, expediting logistical support to austere locations in Syria after a 90-day equipment delay, which enabled 40 non-strikes and eliminated 69 enemy combatants. Furthermore, he demonstrated bold, decisive leadership in the face of 15% personnel cut, innovative new wing processes to ensure timely completion of 13 projects valued at $11 million. He ensured seamless base operating and support integration for the Kuwait Air Force, Canada's Joint Task Force, the Italian Air Force, the Danish National Support Element, and the United Kingdom's MQ-9 fleet. Finally, while in support of Allies Refuge, he let the wing's agile response to the largest non-combatant evacuation operation in the United States history. During this period, the wing increased airfield operating capacity by over 300%, facilitating 700 flights evacuating more than 124,300 Afghan refugees. The Superior Initiative, Outstanding Leadership, and Personal Endeavour displayed by Colonel Wilson reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force. Thank you to every single person's name, but, you know, good afternoon and thank you for everyone that put this ceremony together. It's a beautiful ceremony and I really appreciate all of the work that goes into each and every part of 8 or 10 of these ceremonies in the last several weeks. Well, I can stand and tell great stories or read you statistics about all of the accomplishments that you all this wing and all of those in the front row are partners that I can talk about all of the accomplishments that you all in the past year and I'll go through some of those, but I really just want to stand up here and say thank you to the wing. It's been the best assignment of my career without a doubt. And thank you to everyone in the front row and so I won't repeat your names back to you today, but just know that I'm very grateful and count you among my friends. So thank you for being here. General Guillaume, who couldn't be here today and General Nguyen, thank you for providing me with the autonomy to conduct operations at the Marauder Wing in the manner that me and my team need necessary. Both of you have always provided the leadership and the mentorship and the direction necessary to meet the Commanders intent. But you never question the manner in which we carried it out. The freedom of maneuver that you all provided afforded us the opportunity to tackle the challenges head on in the best interest of our airmen and the mission. To our phenomenal host nation partners the outstanding support that you provided me and the entire 386 their expeditionary wing each and every day is second to none, but specifically during the United States retrograde from Afghanistan it was absolutely amazing. The time, the resources and the effort that co-weight poured into the withdrawal effort from Afghanistan was sort of amazing. But even that doesn't compare to the effort that you put behind this wing day in and day out wing commander after wing in the U.S. Embassy in OMC Kuwait. We became fast friends at the onset of the largest non-combat in evacuation in the history of the world to be quite honest. Without your wisdom, guidance and support it would have been an impossible task. I'm reminded of the time during the peak of the operation after working 18 hour day after 18 hour day I was awakened by a 4 a.m. phone call from my maintenance group commander and he said sir we have contaminated fuel on the base we have to shut down flying operations of course later turned out to be false I immediately shaved my face brushed my teeth jumped in the shower wake up put on my uniform to receive call number 2 Colonel Wilson you have two unannounced U.S. House of Representatives members that will be on your rep within the hour it happened all within just a few hours Mr. Holsteiner I've never been more thankful to see a former devil dog U.S. Marine Sharjah DeFair show up on my base at short notice you were a lifesaver so thank you I can't overstate the importance of our joint coalition partners either your presence here at Ohio Saline means the world to us the U.S. Army yes we have U.S. Navy we have U.S. Marines we have United Kingdom partners Canada Italy and a small contentant of NATO partners as well you work with us on a day-to-day basis to project combat power from here in Ohio Saline to defeat Daesh day and night thank you to my staff the daily support that you've provided to keep me on track which is quite a task that's been eye watering thank you for your help all right I've got a shift here anybody in here at basketball fan perhaps you've heard of the Dream Team 1992 U.S. Olympic team they dominated their competition by over 40 points a game they had superstars like David the Admiral Robinson Larry the legend Bird Carl the mailman Malone Sir Charles Barkley Irvin Magic Johnson and of course the greatest basketball player of all time Michael Eric Jordan these players were absolutely amazing at the game what I'll argue though is that I had my own Dream Team here and I'll run through their names for you too Colonel J.B. Vanilla Pikes Bennett gets better chief here it comes Command Chief Master Sergeant Josh Bakesale Buck Colonel J.B. The Deuce Barnes Colonel John Goodman Colonel J.B. The Deuce Barnes Colonel John Gus Gustafson also known as the Airman Dorm Leader of Building 421 Colonel Rick the Whistler Palmer Colonel Josh Candy Coin Pires for his pension to give coins to anybody and Colonel Grant by the book Meadows my payments for the matter these were amazing leaders they carried the weight of the marauder wing on their shoulders for an entire year they made me successful next year to the Airman of the 386 you amazed me with your hard work ingenuity and your ability to get the mission done under extremely difficult circumstances never doubt your value you are absolutely amazing George it's your time you're ready I've spent some time with your team they are amazing you're going to have the best of your life and you're going to lead these Airmen well beyond what I had the ability I wish you the best of success to my family back home Haley, Pierce, Cash, Gage Reese and my dog, Herk I'm a C-130 thanks for the love and support that you've given me over the past 24 years I look forward to seeing you tomorrow I'll end with a quote from President Teddy Roosevelt given in a speech at the Sorbonne Paris, 23 April 1910 he stated it's not the critic who counts not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better the credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood who strives valiantly who airs and comes up short again and again because there is no effort or there is no effort without error or shortcoming but who knows the great enthusiasm the great devotions who spends himself in a worthy cause who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst if he fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat or otters you fight the worthy cause every single day you are in the arena God bless please stand for the official change in command center attention orders department of the air force headquarters united states air force washington dc special order number g22 16 sign 21 june 2022 under the provisions of the air force destruction 51-509 and effective 1 july 2022 colonel george m buff jr assumes command of the 386 air expeditionary wing alias the air base to introduce the commander 386 air expeditionary wing colonel buff thanks for joining us here today it's fun to be an upload driver again this was my last place i deployed to and coming back it's somethings that were changed but before i forget i'd like to thank cat and don and really everyone that involved success it's it's a lot of people like the ball set it's a large team to make this what it is and in such great facility too i'm not i'm actually going to try to recognize everybody because as colonel wilson gets leave you know when gets leave i'm actually the guy staying with the chief and the new team so i'll do my best if i know i've met some of you already i've met some more probably afterwards so i'd like to recognize mr holstein channel geo couldn't be here but thank you for coming out to support your general melson and commands are greater simple we're going to general slate and it's late we're going to general rutherland john ozmy and his daughter dr ozmy and of course our honor is a wing commander mr holly i think you're a wonderful example of the hospitality information and i can't wait to work to serve with you this next year and um i really enjoyed dinner last night so food's great and very quick because i haven't got it on base uh chief i look forward to working with you and the fellow query of your ship throughout the year and finally i'd also like to recognize fellow directors colonels squad commanders chiefs first sergeant and of course the men and women with 3D CZDW i'd like to you know say thanks to a couple individuals that helped me get to this point my career so let's be pretty short first general geo thank you for having to trust faith and confidence and also general print for representing and supporting him to lead this plane for the next year i'll go through i absolutely best to uh meet the mission and take it over here i know i'm following in some tough shoes behind carol wesson i think you've been a phenomenal providing guidance, support, advice, mentorship and preparing to lead this wing most importantly thank you for finding such a high performing team and i'll do my best for the chief to build upon your leadership team successes go let in the afterlife and deserve all the best also i appreciate it to rob your instructions last night it's not as bad as robbing a target you're a coward well there are too many stellar leaders and mentors i've had through the years i just got to really recognize two friends mark and jerry for what's free jim support honest to you that continuous brotherhood i wouldn't be standing here today i have no doubt be the one if you could if you chose to stay here jerry, george, adin and satie i know another year is the last thing you wanted but i know you're strong and i promise it'll be worth it and i love all three to my dad and sisters thanks for supporting the kids and i through this year i truly can do it without you i couldn't ask for a better feeling and really a final few thoughts on this coming year commanders about relationships chief founder continue to build and cultivate them with their great hosts partners in and outside our country and all of our international partners we'll continue to increase our enemies deployed quality of life and service so they can execute the mission and make sure they always know their purpose if a person knows their purpose feels valued and is taken care of there are no worries for mission success for me there is no greater honor to command and lead a wing in this incombinative war please stand for the plane v6 we congratulate colonel from the stage cake local snacks and refreshments thank you for attending today's ceremony and have a great day