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ANG Command Chief visits 125th Operations Group Detachment 1

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jacob Hancock
  • 125th Fighter Wing

HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, FL -- Airmen of the 125th Operations Group Detachment 1 (Det 1) welcomed Chief Master Sgt. Maurice Williams, command chief of the Air National Guard, and Chief Master Sgt. Aaron Dent, command first sergeant of the ANG, for a unit visit, July 11.

The pair received a mission brief with state and unit leadership and toured the unit to meet and engage with Airmen.

Immediately following their tour, the chiefs held a luncheon for junior enlisted members where Airmen could openly discuss challenges and ideas in a more relaxed setting. Williams also used this time to get to know the Airmen and to reinforce how important they are to the mission and our nation’s security. He challenged the group to regularly recognize each other’s work in the work center to foster an environment of trust and respect.

"My number one priority is people," Williams said. "You must understand how you fit into the bigger picture and how your actions and initiative can secure our nation. What you do for your mission makes all the difference.”

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Shawn Keaton, an aircraft maintenance journeyman assigned to the 125th Operations Group Det 1, spoke with Williams at length during the luncheon and took away a lot from the visit.

“I believe this time with Chief Williams changed the trajectory of my career,” Keaton said. “He gave me a different perspective…a very high-level picture of the Air National Guard which helped me better understand the impact we have in a way that gave me more appreciation for what we do.”

This visit is a continuance of Williams’ visits to units across the country aimed to personally engage with Airmen at all levels of the organization.

“These visits give us the opportunity to make informed decisions on policies that drive the direction of the organization as a whole,” Williams explained. “We are able to hear from Airmen on the ground to receive feedback on policies and procedures that we’re implementing, changing, or looking to change at the national level.”

Following their visit, Williams and Dent continued their trip to visit ANG Airmen supporting Joint Interagency Task Force South at Naval Air Station Key West, Florida.