Page 6 - Nellis, Creech and NTTR Bullseye 11-13-15
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6 November 13, 2015 Feature BULLSEYE
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RETIRES, from page 5 __________ retirement ceremony,” said Gen. Hawk U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jake Carter
Carlisle, 99th Air Combat Command
on the news, but they really have no idea commander, who presided over Koester’s Retired Chief Master Sgt. Paul Koester, 58th Rescue Squadron chief enlisted manager,
what you are going through and we don’t retirement ceremony. “Chief Koester is shadows an Airman participating in a training scenario Oct. 22 at Nellis Air Force
want to share most of the because of the much too humble of a man to admit this, Base, Nev. Koester entered the Air Force in 1974 and served a combined 41 years
sensitive stuff that we do,” Koester said. but very few people serve long enough to on active duty and Air National Guard.
“And then you have your military family. actually witness their legacy in the Air
Especially as a senior NCO, you have a Force and Chief Koester will be able to
full plate. You have a group of Airmen do that.”
that look to you to take care of them
when you’re deployed. And the best part “I will tell you in my humble opinion,
is having that responsibility. That is the I believe that our PJ’s in particular are
most rewarding part of having the job.” probably the top two or three most highly
trained and skilled members of the entire
With retirement in the books, Koester United States military and it speaks to
says he will miss the Air Force and de- what Chief Koester has been through in
ploying down range, but enjoys the time his life and what he has done,” Carlisle
he gets to spend with his family. said.Koester plans to skydive in his free
time, conduct firearm training for mili-
“It’s great coming home at a regular tary members, as well as gunsmithing
time,” Koester said. “I’ve got two kids that — which he has been doing since 2006.
have moved back home for the short term
and I have a grandson in the house, so it’s During his retirement ceremony, he
nice to have a normal routine and I don’t also left his battlefield airmen one last
have to deploy which is great, and on the message.
other hand, I don’t get to deploy again,
and that’s probably the one downside “We are the outliers when you look
which I definitely will miss.” at the overall mission of the Air Force. I
use to have a very specific task, ‘kill the
After recently celebrating his 60th enemy, destroy the ability to fight, save
birthday, Koester was the oldest enlisted American lives, and bring them home
member actively serving in the Air Force to their families,’” Koester said. “That
as well as the longest serving Pararescue hasn’t wavered since I came in in 1974,
Airman in history with 13 deployments we are still here for that very same reason
throughout his illustrious career. and battlefield airmen do it the best, no
question about it.”
“I am honored beyond belief to have
the opportunity to preside over this
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