The following is Brig Gen Braden “Mongo” Sakai‘s Commander’s Column from the May 2016 Kūkā‘ilimoku. The entire issue will post tomorrow morning.
As the famous quote goes, ‘Flexibility is the Key to Air Power’. A lot has happened in the last week or so. Long story short and good news for the Wing, Col Woodrow will be your next Wing Commander effective 1 June 2016. So, my timeline moved up a month and this will be my last drill as the Wing Commander. Although I’m extremely excited for the Wing with Col Woodrow succeeding me, it’s hard to put into words what I’m feeling. I just know I will miss each and every one of you so much!
Interesting that my first article to the Wing was a thank you article for my Assumption of Command Ceremony and I’m going to end my last article with a simple thank you too.
Mahalo for making my five years as your Wing Commander a very enjoyable and memorable one. I have learned and grown so much from my interactions with all of you…Thank you! We have gone through so much these past years and you all responded with the utmost professionalism and resiliency. If you haven’t done so already, please take a moment and look around campus to reflect on the following: how sequestration affected us, the furloughs, the government shutdown, adding a Classic and Active associate units to the Wing, our conversion to the F-22, our successful Combined Unit Inspection, our $200M plus Milcon projects and the list goes on. We did it together and we are all better for it. I am so proud of all of you and to be part of this outstanding Wing.
Please know you have all found your way into my heart and I will be forever grateful of your Aloha and Ohana you have given me and my family.
I hope to thank you all again personally at the Change of Command Ceremony which we are anticipating to be during July drill. In closing, Imua Na Koa! As you go forward take care of your family and yourselves. Continue to embrace change, changing for the better so as to keep the Air Force relevant and ahead of our adversaries. God Bless you all, God Bless Hawaii and God Bless the United States of America!
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