Hawaii billet a dream come true

  • Published
  • By Mark Munsey
  • 15th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii --  Upon arrival at his technical school in 1981, the 18-year-old two-striper was handed a dream sheet, and with the kind of confidence that exists only in the days following basic training graduation, his first choice seemed a no-brainer: Hawaii.

It took just over a quarter century filled with eight duty stations and the addition of six more stripes, but Chief Master Sgt. Tom Westermeyer's initial dream came true, save for a few new dreams piled on.

The view from his 15th Airlift Wing Command Chief's office is a good one, miles away from the view first envisioned at the recruiting office.

"I told him I didn't want to sit at a desk, I want to be outside working with people," shared Chief Westermeyer, a security forces member for more than two decades. "That description was met beyond my wildest imagination."

A distinguished graduate of both the Noncommissioned Officer Academy and Department of Defense Security Specialist Course, Chief Westermeyer is familiar to classroom success, no matter how 'classroom' is defined.

In 1994, needing specific training for a duty requirement, he was selected to go to Army Ranger School, self-described as the 'most elite combat leadership course.' From the grueling nine-week school came the foundation for his leadership style.

"No matter how bad it gets, you can still push on," he said.

In the previous 40 years leading up to his graduation, a total of just 90 other Air Force warriors had earned 'the patch.'

"Back when authorized to wear with our uniform, that thing brought with it instant credibility with any of the Army folks I'd come in contact with," Chief Westermeyer shared.

Now in his second tour as a command chief, Chief Westermeyer most recently held the wing top-enlisted billet at Headquarters U.S. Air Force Europe's 38th Combat Support Group, whose members spread far and wide from Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

"I had folks from Norway to Moron, Spain; Alconbury to Istanbul," he said about his previous command chief responsibilities. "Not only did it give me the chance to see the big picture, it certainly helped me to think both in and outside the wire."

It's a perspective tailor-made to be the enlisted voice to the wing and its diverse mission, according to Col. JJ Torres, 15th Airlift Wing commander.

"Chief Westermeyer has the experience and mindset to be outstanding as my principal adviser on enlisted matters," Colonel Torres said. "Tom is going to do great things for Team Hickam and I look forward to working with him on issues affecting our enlisted warriors."

Only five days into the seat, Chief Westermeyer has already marveled at the Hickam spirit of 'ohana.

"Of all the moves my family and I have made, this is by far the best," he said. "No matter where I go, everyone has been extremely helpful and it has made the transition so easy,"

Just like it is supposed to be in dreams.