Deputy Secretary of Defense greets troops at Kandahar Airfield

Courtesy Photo | Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Bradley, the Chief of Trauma at the Kandahar Airfield Role III Medical facility, highlights the original Role III hospital sign to the Deputy Secretary of Defense, Bob Work during a tour of the medical facility Nov. 28. The Deputy Secretary of Defense visited KAF to thank service members for their continuing contributions.  

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, AFGHANISTAN

11.29.2014

Story by Maj. Christopher Brautigam 

1st Cavalry Division

KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan – Deployment brings a variety of different experiences to most service members. Many service members get their first trip outside of the country, get to meet people from different countries and different cultures, and get to be part of a mission oriented team.

While far away from home on deployments and in their day to day duties, it is rare to meet the Department of Defense senior civilian leadership. On Nov. 28, service members in Train, Advise, Assist Command – South at Kandahar Airfield got the opportunity to do that when they were visited by the Deputy Secretary of Defense, the Honorable Bob O. Work.

Work, a 27-year Marine Corps veteran, visited TAAC-S to take the opportunity to personally thank service members for their contributions to the mission in Afghanistan and to their country.

Throughout his visit, he continued to stress his thanks and appreciation for the service members he took the opportunity to meet. He told all of the service members he met that, “It’s people like you who really make the difference.”

During his visit to Kandahar Airfield, Work took the opportunity to visit with the Soldiers of the 45th Sustainment Brigade, who recently completed their mission as the CENTCOM Material Recovery Element. He thanked the approximately 100 Soldiers in attendance for their service, sacrifice, and efforts during their deployment.

Following his visit to the CMRE, he and his wife Cassandra toured the Kandahar Airfield Role III medical center to meet the medical professionals on duty.

His final unit visit he conducted was to the TAAC-S headquarters, where he discussed why the United States had such a powerful military. Work said, it’s not the state of the art equipment that makes us great, but instead “the real secret weapon is American servicemen and women.”

• Date Taken: 11.29.2014
• Date Posted: 11.29.2014 09:11
• Story ID: 149036
• Location: KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, AF