Page 4 - gfs0518_Magazine

FRONT BURNER

Dining Facility Focuses Airmen on Unit’s Heritage

he 130th Airlift Wing’s newly
Tremodeled dining facility at
McLaughlin Air National Guard Base,
Charleston, W.VA, breaks from the past
by giving airmen the amenities a mod-
ern building can offer, while carefully
preserving the unit’s rich history.
“When I took command of the wing
in 2015, I believed, as I still do, that
it’s important for those serving now to
understand the deep heritage we have
here at McLaughlin Air National Guard
Base,” said Col. Johnny Ryan, 130th
AW commander. Major General James A. Hoyer, right, the adjutant general for the State of West Virginia, and Col. Johnny M.
West Virginia Army and Air National Ryan, Jr., 130 AW wing commander, cut the ribbon to officially open the Props & Wings dining facility during
Guard leadership and command staff its dedication on March 4, 2018. The newly designed dining facility features a historical timeline of its rich Air
Force heritage. (Photo by Tech. Sgt. De-Juan Haley, West Virginia U.S.A.N.G.)
members were on hand when the 130th
Airlift Wing unveiled its “Props and from modern-day West Virginia to join gather around the dinner table daily
Wings” dining facility on March 4, 2018. the Continental Army during the Bee- and we would grow as a family. That
The first stage of the remodel was line March.” is my hope for this dining facility, that
completed in November 2017 with Ryan said in closing, “When I was this gives our airmen a place to celebrate
the installation of booth seating, new a kid growing up, my family would our heritage and grow as a unit.”
furniture and custom tile floors. The
final stage was completed in February Coast Guard MWR Gains
with adornment of the wall with past
and current images and a unit history New Director of Programs
in the form of a timeline, which greets
visitors to the dining facility. ary Scheer has retired of Management and Budget
“What you see here is a culmination Gafter a 44-year career (OMB) for Escambia County,
of Col. Ryan’s vision and the hard work that combined active duty Fla. In 1997, he returned to
from members of the enlisted councils,” and federal service, most service with the Coast Guard
said 130th AW Command Chief Master recently as director of Coast in a civilian role as the direc-
Sgt. Kevin Cecil. “The team assembled Guard Morale, Well-Being and tor of Morale, Well-Being and
really carried the water for this, and Recreation (MWR) programs. Recreation (MWR).
as you can see, they really nailed the His successor at Coast He spent the next 21
commander’s intent.” Guard MWR is Cmdr. Matt years in the position and
The dining facility adornments were Perciak, former executive of- achieved numerous high-
contracted and designed by Mark Wolfe, ficer of the Coast Guard Com- Scheer lights that shaped the direc-
of Mark Wolfe Design, and installation munity Services Command (CGCSC). tion of Coast Guard MWR and other
was completed by Bill Price and Greg Scheer’s retirement on March 30, services.
Harold. Senior Master Sgt. Joe Hinch- 2018, fulfills a career that began in Scheer drafted the first Coast Guard
man, Senior Master Sgt. Kevin Chest- 1976 when he graduated from the U.S. MWR manual, streamlining the pro-
nut, Senior Master Sgt. Travis Walker, Coast Guard Academy and began a 20- grams and policies for standardization.
Master Sgt. Bob Barker and Tech. Sgt. year active-duty military career that He was a critical contributor to the es-
Eugene Crist all had a hand in the final included serving in several operation tablishment of the CGCSC, including
selection of pictures and placement. and staff assignments. His active-duty leadership that led to centralizing MWR
“I am excited about what I see here service included several afloat tours, and Coast Guard Exchange functions
and the initiatives taken to focus the as well as being commanding officer to operate more efficiently.
airmen of this wing on its heritage,” said and group commander at several sites. He utilized the new CSC command
Maj. Gen. James Hoyer, the adjutant The pinnacle of his active-duty service structure to bring outside investment
general of the West Virginia National is considered when he served as chief, to support MWR programs throughout
Guard. “It’s collectively important for Budget Coordination Staff in the Of- the Coast Guard and began a centralized
us as an organization to understand fice of Personnel and Training at Coast commercial sponsorship program. Since
whose shoulders we stand on and the Guard Headquarters. 2013, these commercial sponsorships
heritage we draw from as descendants After retiring from active duty in have generated over $280,000 in fund-
of those 98 militia men that marched 1996, Scheer briefly worked for the Office ing from USAA and GEICO for Coast
4 GOVERNMENT FOOD SERVICE • MAY 2018