187th Fighter Wing Senior Enlisted Leader Says Farewell

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jared Rand
  • 187th Fighter Wing/Public Affairs
1/19/2016 --  1/14/2016 - MONTGOMERY REGIONAL AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Ala. - The 187th Fighter Wing Command Chief Master Sergeant Lindsey McCall was recognized in a formal retirement ceremony held in the wing hangar January 10, 2016. Hundreds of friends, family and Airmen attended the event that marked the end of Chief McCall's 40 year career. 

"This man is admired, respected. He's an Alabama treasure," said Lieutenant Governor of Alabama, Kay Ivey. "I've been out here to the 187th on several occasions... and every time, there's the Chief; quietly overseeing that everything's just right."

Indeed, McCall is a familiar face to members and friends of the 187th Fighter Wing. He enlisted in the Air National Guard in 1976 as an electrical technician, and served the next 40 years at the 187th. He earned the rank of Chief Master Sergeant in 1993, and was selected to help start the 187th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron in 1995. Chief McCall became the wing's sixth Command Chief in 2012.

The highlight of his career, McCall said, was when the 187th deployed to an undisclosed location in the Middle East in 2003. When Operation Iraqi Freedom kicked off 30 days after the wing arrived, McCall and the wing leadership had to form 600 Airmen from around the world into a cohesive unit.

"Throughout the war, we didn't miss one sortie," McCall remembered. "And no one was seriously injured. Everyone returned home safely, and today I still refer to that as the 'Miracle in the Desert.'"

McCall has deployed four times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. In addition, he's deployed in support of Operation Northern Watch and Southern Watch.

"Throughout the years I've been asked, 'Why are you still here?'", McCall said with a smile. "Well, my answer is, there's no better career out there than serving the country; there's no better job out there."

Chief Master Sergeant McCall will officially retire in March, 2016.

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187th Fighter Wing Senior Enlisted Leader Says Farewell

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jared Rand
  • 187th Fighter Wing/Public Affairs
1/19/2016 --  1/14/2016 - MONTGOMERY REGIONAL AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Ala. - The 187th Fighter Wing Command Chief Master Sergeant Lindsey McCall was recognized in a formal retirement ceremony held in the wing hangar January 10, 2016. Hundreds of friends, family and Airmen attended the event that marked the end of Chief McCall's 40 year career. 

"This man is admired, respected. He's an Alabama treasure," said Lieutenant Governor of Alabama, Kay Ivey. "I've been out here to the 187th on several occasions... and every time, there's the Chief; quietly overseeing that everything's just right."

Indeed, McCall is a familiar face to members and friends of the 187th Fighter Wing. He enlisted in the Air National Guard in 1976 as an electrical technician, and served the next 40 years at the 187th. He earned the rank of Chief Master Sergeant in 1993, and was selected to help start the 187th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron in 1995. Chief McCall became the wing's sixth Command Chief in 2012.

The highlight of his career, McCall said, was when the 187th deployed to an undisclosed location in the Middle East in 2003. When Operation Iraqi Freedom kicked off 30 days after the wing arrived, McCall and the wing leadership had to form 600 Airmen from around the world into a cohesive unit.

"Throughout the war, we didn't miss one sortie," McCall remembered. "And no one was seriously injured. Everyone returned home safely, and today I still refer to that as the 'Miracle in the Desert.'"

McCall has deployed four times in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. In addition, he's deployed in support of Operation Northern Watch and Southern Watch.

"Throughout the years I've been asked, 'Why are you still here?'", McCall said with a smile. "Well, my answer is, there's no better career out there than serving the country; there's no better job out there."

Chief Master Sergeant McCall will officially retire in March, 2016.