COMMENTARY>>Holiday wishes from the top

By Gen. Edward A. Rice Jr.

Air Education and Training Command commander

The winter holidays bring an array of celebrations that highlight the diverse cultures that make our nation great. What unites so many of those festivities is a spirit of thankfulness for the many blessings we share. Teresa and I want to wish everyone a safe and healthy holiday season and say thank you to all the men and women of Air Education and Training Command for making 2011 such a success.

Closest to our hearts are all the deployed members of the command and their families. Having gone through this experience ourselves, we know how deployments over the holidays can be particularly tough, not just on the Airmen, but particularly the families back home. This year, more than 6,000 AETC Airmen have deployed around the globe. Thanks to your exceptional diligence and readiness, AETC answered the call to send our people to multiple worldwide operations while also maintaining our total commitment to training and educating the world’s finest Air Force!

For those of us not deployed, I ask that as you make your holiday plans for quality time with family and friends, please know that I take personal interest in your safety and well-being. Be smart and make good decisions. If you’re traveling, use caution and allow yourself time for delays. Make arrangements ahead of time so you’re never in a position to consider drinking and driving. The world’s greatest Air Force is nothing without its number one asset – you.

As we celebrate together, I also ask you to remember the families of our deployed Airmen as well as our single Airmen. In the spirit of camaraderie that makes our Air Force such a special family, I hope you’ll welcome them into your holiday gatherings here at home.

The bonds we build today serve to strengthen the command for tomorrow…and continue to make our United States Air Force the most respected airpower in the world. Happy holidays, AETC. Thank you for all that you do to keep our nation secure.