Photo By Senior Airman Racheal Watson | U.S. Air Force Col. Clarence Lukes Jr., 386th Air Expeditionary Wing commander, gives...... read more read more
Subscribe
UNDISCLOSED LOCATION - The change of command ceremony dates back to the 18th century during the reign of Fredrick the Great of Prussia. During this time, organizational flags unique to each unit were created. The leader who possessed the flag held the soldier’s allegiance, which is a symbolic tradition that continues today.
Col. Clarence Lukes Jr . took command of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing from Col. Jason Hanover during a ceremony at the Rock Theater, June 15, 2015.
Lukes assumed command after serving as the 374th Airlift Wing vice commander at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Hanover, who has been the commander since June 2014, will be the chief of staff of Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
Lt. Gen. John Hesterman III, commander of U.S. Air Forces Central Command in Southwest Asia, officiated the ceremony. Hesterman gave opening remarks, thanking fellow leaders for their support.
Hesterman then presented Hanover with the Legion of Merit first oak leaf cluster, followed by Hanover addressing the Marauder team for the last time as their commander.
Hanover said the learning experience was mutual and summed up his lessons learned over the past 365 days.
“Never miss an opportunity to develop your people; respond, never react; make decisions unemotionally but lead passionately; during a crisis slow down; communicate and collaborate; scan the horizon; properly prepare and efficiently act; the only way to be in two places at once is to empower those around you; for every minute of effective communication you save yourself 10 minutes of ineffective work; the world is not stationary, if you’re not moving forward then you’re moving backward; growth begins where your comfort zone ends and finally as Chief Barazza always says ‘reach,’” said Hanover.
Before Hanover left, he had one last thank you to say to his team he spent the last year with.
“Men and women of the 386th, George Orwell is quoted as saying ‘We sleep safely at night because rough men stand ready to visit violence on those who would harm us,’” said Hanover. “You are those rough men standing ever ready. You are our nation’s sword and shield, and I will sleep well back home knowing you are here manning the wall. Fight on Marauders.”
Hanover then joined Hesterman and Lukes at center stage for the passing of the 386th AEW guidon.
Lukes accepted the 386th AEW flag with a vision of continued excellence.
“As I served in Japan for the last two years, I was often reminded by two former Marauder operations group [personnel] of the gallantry and dedication I would witness in the men and women of this wing,” said Lukes. “Marauders, you have excelled at accomplishing every task given and you have done so in an exemplary manner.”
Lukes assured the audience he did not intend to upset the momentum of superiority that has preceded his command. He shared his vision for moving forward by focusing on the road ahead.
Lukes ended his speech with a look to the future.
“I wish all of those who are completing their tour all the best as you transition back to your loved ones and I look forward to getting after the mission with those of us who are just getting started and I challenge each and every one of us to continue to conduct ourselves in the manner in which people have come to expect from the Marauders, which is Rock solid, ready for anything,” said Lukes.
| Date Taken: | 06.15.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 06.16.2015 04:37 |
| Story ID: | 166762 |
| Location: | (UNDISCLOSED LOCATION) |
| Hometown: | YOKOTA AIR BASE, TOKYO, JP |
| Hometown: | MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, AL, US |
| Web Views: | 198 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 386th Air Expeditionary Wing welcomes new commander, by SrA Racheal Watson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT