Small town to paradise

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Anthony J. Rivera | 210430-N-XC372-1481 JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM (April 30, 2021) Adm. John Aquilino delivers remarks during the change of command ceremony for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM), where Adm. Davidson relinquished command to Aquilino. Aquilino, who was previously the U.S. Pacific Fleet commander, acknowledged USINDOPACOM’s critical role in providing regional peace and security. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Anthony J. Rivera)  

HI, UNITED STATES

05.01.2021

Story by Airman 1st Class Makensie Cooper 

15th Wing

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- I arrived at my first duty station in December 2020 here, pursuing my dream job, living in paradise, and looking for opportunities to experience more.
I grew up in a small town in north Georgia where the town stood still for high school football games and the town gossip was whose cows got out over the weekend.
As a wide-eyed airman first class, I ended up with the opportunity to participate in the change of command ceremony for the nation’s oldest and largest combatant command, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
It was an overwhelming and humbling experience to be directly supporting distinguished visitors such as Lloyd J. Austin III, Secretary of Defense, and Gen. Mark A. Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff only a year after graduating from Basic Military Training.
I represented our nation by driving French air force Brig. Gen. Cyril Carcy, Defense Attaché of the Embassy of France, during his stay in Hawaii for the ceremony.
The day I picked up my vehicle, I made sure my hands were at the positions of ten and two on the steering wheel and I gripped so tight that my knuckles were white -- I was a little nervous.
I picked up my liaison, U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Austin Oubre, Joint Interagency Task Force representative, who ensured Carcy’s visit was successful.
Several years ago, I visited Paris and while walking the streets enjoying fresh crepes and drinking espresso from the street vendors, I never imagined that I would one day work with the French military while representing my country, in Hawai of all places.
Our responsibility over the course of the next few days was to accompany Carcy wherever he needed to be. In addition to the change of command, he attended meetings at Pacific Air Forces Headquarters, toured JBPHH, and even made a stop to try poke, a Hawaiian dish, before departing the island.
I joined the Air Force to be a part of something bigger than myself and to see the world, and now, a year later, I live in a postcard-perfect place with the most amazing opportunities, getting the chance to see more than I have before and working hand-in-hand with countries across the globe.
It was an incredible opportunity to witness history and play a small role in the ceremony. At the end of the week I received a coin from Carcy, my first coin from an officer.

• Date Taken: 05.01.2021
• Date Posted: 05.26.2021 22:00
• Story ID: 397530
• Location: HI, US