Master Sgt. Russel Ware takes a photo of Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and Airman 1st Class Benjamin Romshak during a dorm dinner Aug. 31, 2011, at Fort George G. Meade, Md. Romshak is assigned to the 70th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Dillon White)
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz looks at a photo with Airman 1st Class Jarred Adams during a dorm dinner Aug. 31, 2011 at Fort George G. Meade, Md. Adams is assigned to the 70th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Dillon White)
by Staff Sgt. Dillon White
70th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs
9/9/2011 - FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (AFNS) -- Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz attended a chaplain-sponsored dormitory dinner with Airmen from the 70th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing Aug. 31 here.
During his visit, Schwartz was given a tour of the wing's dormitory, where he was shown recently-made improvements including a new furnace, smoke detector system, and appliances that improve each dormitory room's energy efficiency by 30 percent.
"It's a thrill to come up to Fort (George G.) Meade and spend the afternoon learning a little bit more about what you do," Schwartz said to 70th ISRW Airmen during dinner. "As you all know, what happens here changes so rapidly. I was here two years ago, and things have moved on and matured substantially in that amount of time."
Schwartz shook hands with attendees, thanked the volunteers who helped with the dinner and posed for photographs with Airmen.
"I want to thank the families who are here for making it possible for your military members to serve and to all those here who serve our nation every day," Schwartz said. "Do not measure your worth by your proximity to the target; that's not the way it is any more. Whatever distance you happen to be from where the major events are occurring, your Air Force is grateful for what you do and the way you do it.
"The bottom line is, everybody counts -- everybody matters," he said.
Chaplain (Capt.) Ronald Feeser said the dinners are held to show the 70th ISRW Airmen they are part of the Air Force family.
"They are our sons and daughters, and we want them all to know, 'you matter,'" Feeser said. "For (the chief of staff) to take time out of his busy schedule to look them in the eye and say thank you for your sacrifices is awesome."
Airman 1st Class Jarred Adams said the general's message was not lost on him.
"Meeting someone of his stature was incredible," Adams said. "To actually shake his hand is an impactful experience, especially as a young Airman. It shows what kind of person he is. He cares about the time you spend away from work."
Col. Mary O'Brien, the 70th ISRW commander, said the dinners are all about caring for the wing's Airmen, and that Schwartz's words regarding the wing's contributions to the mission, while deployed or from home station, were inspirational.
"It was great to demonstrate, with the chief of staff's visit, that our concern for (Airmen's) health and welfare starts at the very top of the Air Force," she said.
