WEBVTT

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- [Jacqueline] Ladies and
gentlemen, I am Jacqueline Bendel

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and I will be your narrator
for today's ceremony.

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On behalf of the presiding official,

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Colonel Jennifer Reeves,

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Commander of the 341st Missile Wing

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welcome to today's Change of Command

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in which command of the 341st
Operations Group will pass

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from Colonel Christopher Menuey
to Colonel Kenneth McGhee.

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The Change of Command is
a century's-old tradition

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in which transfer of
command responsibility

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passes from one Commander to the next.

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This formal military ceremony
will be performed virtually

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from Malmstrom Air Force Base,

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allowing Team Malmstrom family and friends

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to observe the transfer of
authority and responsibility

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from the outgoing Commander
to the incoming Commander.

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Today's ceremony will
have a unique format,

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but one that is required

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as our nation continues to
fight the COVID-19 virus

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by observing social distancing.

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Although we are celebrating

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this momentous occasion differently,

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the tradition and formality

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of the Change of Command Ceremony
will still be on display,

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conducted with great dignity

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and broadcasted on social
media for many to see.

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Once again, family members,
friends and community partners,

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we hope you've enjoyed today's
Change of Command Ceremony.

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We will now have the plane
of the national Anthem

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and the implication by javelin Massey.

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♪ O say can you see by
the dawn's early light ♪

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♪ What so proudly we hailed at
the twilight's last gleaming ♪

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♪ Whose broad stripes and bright stars ♪

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♪ Through the perilous fight ♪

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♪ O'er the ramparts we watched
were so gallantly streaming ♪

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♪ And the rocket's red glare
the bombs bursting in air ♪

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♪ Gave proof through the night
that our flag was still there ♪

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♪ O say does that
star-spangled banner yet wave ♪

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♪ O'er the land of the free
and the home of the brave ♪

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- I invite you to pray in your
tradition as I pray in mine.

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Father God, we thank you
for the privilege of serving

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in the greatest Air Force
the world has ever seen.

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Please use us to spread hope
and peace to our allies,

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fear and hesitation to our enemies.

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Today we're celebrating
the mantle of leadership

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as we thank you for all
Colonel Menuey has done

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for Wing One's Operations Group

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and all that he will do
for the 91st Missile Wing

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and for the loving support
of Tanya and their sons.

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I truly believe our Air Force is stronger

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specifically because of
families like the Menueys.

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Their sincerity touches our hearts

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and their confidence
compels us to improve.

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As Colonel McGhee takes command,

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we turn to you now asking
for wisdom and for joy,

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may he have the wisdom needed

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to lead the men and
women under his command

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to even greater feats of
integrity, service and excellence,

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and may his family find true
joy here in the days ahead.

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Finally Lord, we ask
you to use our service

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as a force for good in the world.

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May we work every single day

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to leave our Air Force better
than we found it, amen.

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Thank you.

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- [Jacqueline] Thank
you Chaplain (mumbles)

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for your thoughtful words.

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It is now my pleasure to
introduce Colonel Jennifer Reeves,

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Commander of the 341st Missile Wing.

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- So when I was going through my inventory

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of old Change of Command speeches,

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to think about what I wanted to say

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about these two outstanding Commanders,

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I came across something
that really made me smile,

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and that's the speech I gave

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as I officiated at Colonel
Menuey's Change of Command

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when he was assuming command
of the 341st Operations Group.

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That happened just over two years ago

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on the 3rd of July, 2018.

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I chuckled a bit because
he took that guide on

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from Colonel Feugate Opperman
who in less than three weeks,

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will take the guide on of the
341st Missile Wing from me.

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And here I am officiating Chris's
outgoing Change of Command

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following which he's heading off to Minot

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to take command of the 91st Missile Wing.

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But right now, he's
handing the guide on off

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of the 341st Operations
Group to Colonel McGhee

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who started his career

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right here at Malmstrom Air Force Base

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in the 490th Missile Squadron
as a (mumbles), my goodness.

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All of this confusing loveliness

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to show how we are all connected
in this wonderful world

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operating intercontinental
ballistic missiles.

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It also reminds me that we are surrounded

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by outstanding leaders
who continue to progress,

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taking on ever-growing
responsibilities and authorities.

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I'm reminded that these
trying times of COVID-19

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that we've got,

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that during this we've got
dedicated professionals

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who understand that we must
continue to do our vital mission

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while keeping our airmen
and families safe.

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So it's at this time, I'd
like to welcome everyone

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to this virtual Change of Command Ceremony

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for the 341st Operations Group.

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Thank you especially to
Tanya, Michael and Jonathan

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for not only being part of the ceremony

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but more importantly for
being part of Team Menuey.

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The support you've lent
your husband and dad

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has made it possible for him

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to do the amazing job he's
done at the helm of the OG.

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And thanks to Team McGhee;
Xena, Zurich and Zachary.

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I personally appreciate
you being here for your dad

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and I know he's more than a little excited

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to have you in Montana for just a minute.

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Your love and support will go a long way

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not just for his wellbeing,

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but further for the wellbeing
of the Operations Group.

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So thank you.

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And to all the Commanders,
Chiefs, friends,

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and family of both of
our leaders here today,

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thanks much for tuning into the ceremony.

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I know both families appreciate
your virtual participation

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in this meaningful event.

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So let's circle back and chat
a few minutes about Menueys.

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It's been said that every
Change of Command Ceremony

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is bittersweet and it's true.

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We're farewelling a great
leader, teammate and friend.

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And I say that we're
losing those qualities

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in both Chris and Tanya.

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Colonel Menuey has accumulated
a list of accolades

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while the commander of the
341st Operations Group,

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that is quite impressive.

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In 2019, the Blanchard Trophy

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for performance during
global strike challenge,

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as the best overall ICBM Wing,

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the 2019 Major General
Timothy J. McMahon trophy

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for the best ICBM weapon
system crew during the same,

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the 2019 Do Little Trophy for
best innovation in the Command

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with the ops group right in the thick

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of our new wing Operation Center,

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the 2018 McAdoo Award for the
best ICBM OSS in the Command

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and the 2018 Omaha Trophy

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for best ICBM wing in
US strategic command.

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More team awards, more individual awards,

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so many specific actions

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awarded to the 341st Operations Group.

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Now you'll hear about them and more

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during the reading of his
decoration in just a moment,

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but I tell you people like
working for Colonel Menuey

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and it's not just that
he's good at winning awards

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for people and organizations,

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the OG under his leadership
has been a great place to work.

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Common sense yet with
a sense of discipline,

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innovation yet with a sense of tradition,

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doing things well but
having forgiving processes,

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getting the mission done
but taking care of people.

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He's well-known for much
goodness these past two years.

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And all of that is fitting

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because when asked about
his favorite things

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during this iteration of command,

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it's not really been the
awards and accolades.

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It's been the engagement with
his family, with this state,

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with this mission and with his people.

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Pulling alerts again

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and getting to space and
time with airman in the field

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has brought much joy to
the stage of his career.

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Just being assigned to
Malmstrom the second time

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and getting to reunite with old friends

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has been like a homecoming
for the Menuey family.

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Of course, the boys are quite the athletes

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and they have traveled
around for quite a bit.

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For Jonathan's gymnastics meets

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and Michael's climbing meets,

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both these boys are talented and it shows.

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Jonathan won another regional
all-around championship

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and Michael qualified for regionals

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in his first year of climbing.

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I don't think anyone leaves this base

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without reminiscing about
amazing times up at glacier,

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and the Menueys are no different,

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plus it seems they're
pretty wildlife lucky

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having seen a Wolverine, bighorn sheep,

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mountain goats, Grizzlies
and a black bear.

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Finally though, connecting with people

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has always come out as a favorite.

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Whiskey Wednesdays, Fridays at the club,

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fire pits on driveways, all fond memories.

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Of course any of these,

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the Menueys can start up
at their new assignment,

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to make new memories, and
we must not forget Tanya.

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She has been not just
a tremendous supporter

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of Chris and her family,
but she's been rock-solid

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for the families of the 341st Missile Wing

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in Malmstrom Air Force Base.

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Tanya will be missed in
her role on Team Menuey

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but Tanya will be absolutely
missed in her own right,

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a fully engaged and contributing member

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of this Air Force family
we're all part of.

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I know the 91st is lucky to get you.

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We wish all of Team Menuey the best

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as you move on to this next,
most exciting adventure.

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So earlier I said bittersweet,
and now that I've dispensed

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with the bitter parts of the bittersweets,

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we get to move on to the sweet part

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of our Change of Command.

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And that's where we
welcome the new Commander.

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And boy, do we have a winner.

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After a years of Gold Bar Recruiter,

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Colonel Kenneth McGhee started his career

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right here at Malmstrom Air Force Base.

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And let me tell you, he
went straight to the top

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and has stayed there ever since.

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He has been the number one

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or number two guy at
everything he's ever done.

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And some of those times,

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it's been a pretty big pool
of folks for comparison.

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He has been the number
one of 599 Captains,

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the number one of 46 Officers,

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the number one of 37 joint Majors,

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the four-star called him the number one

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of 80 headquarters 05s,
and it just goes on and on.

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Kenny has been an instructor at Malmstrom,

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he's been an instructor at
the Schoolhouse at Vandenberg,

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Missile Maintenance at Effie Warren,

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he's been the Chief of Operations,

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instruct comms global ops
center, he's been a DO,

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the IG and a Squadron Commander at Minot,

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he's been joint twice,
been to school twice,

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including a fellowship
at Sandia National Labs

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and a student at the National War College,

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and most recently, he
had my former position

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as a matter of fact, on the Joint Staff,

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leading the National
Military Command System,

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Operations division.

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So, stationed in all three
wings and the Schoolhouse,

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both headquarters, Ops, Maintenance,

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Mission Area specific IDE and Elite SDE,

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Strat and the Joint Staff.

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In a word, this leader is qualified.

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We're very much looking forward

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to what Colonel McGhee is
bringing to the Wing One fight.

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I'm sure it's going to be tremendous.

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We've got the right guy
with the right experience,

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the right motivation
all at the right time.

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And while Colonel Menuey brought the OG

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to such great heights,
there's so much more to do

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and Colonel McGhee is
just the right person

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to lead the charge.

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So let's do this change of
command and make it official.

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Thank you all very much for tuning in.

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- [Jacqueline] Thank you Colonel Reeves.

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At this time,

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we will present Colonel
Christopher E. Menuey

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with the Legion of Merit.

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Attention to orders,

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citation to accompany the
award of the Legion of Merit

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to Colonel Christopher E. Menuey.

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Colonel Christopher E.
Menuey distinguished himself

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by exceptionally meritorious conduct

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in the performance of outstanding service

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to the United States

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as Commander of the
341st Operations Group,

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341st Missile Wing, Malmstrom
Air Force Base, Montana,

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from 10th June, 2018 to 15th July, 2020.

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During this period,

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Colonel Menuey superior
leadership was instrumental

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to delivering more than 262,000

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nuclear combat-ready alert hours,

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guaranteeing 24/7, 365 long-range
nuclear strike capability

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for the United States Strategic Command.

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His emphasis on credibility
and commitment ensure safe,

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secure and effective nuclear
command and control operations

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executing three flawless
war plan target changes,

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165 perfect launch facility

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and nuclear control
center encryption updates

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and textbook, test-launch operations

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of four Minuteman III
Intercontinental Ballistic Missile.

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Additionally,

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Colonel Menuey fostered
declinement of empowerment

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and innovation, pioneering

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and expanded sensitive compartment

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and information program
for the entire crew force

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to better understand
adversary actions and threats

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and testing new alert shift constructs

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to improve combat effectiveness
and crew force resiliency.

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Furthermore, he set an environment

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that encouraged airmen to
reach their highest potential

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and achieve phenomenal results.

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Individual and annual award wins

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at the wing, numbered,
Air Force Major Command

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and Air Force levels, four
exceptionally higher headquarters

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and Ling audits of nuclear
coating operations,

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emergency war orders targeting
and communication security,

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elite nuclear surety inspection results

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with only three minors
and zero field deviations.

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The 2018 Colonel McAdoo Award win

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for best Intercontinental
Ballistic Missile

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Operation Support Squadron

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in Air Force Global Strike Command,

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and the general McMann Trophy win

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for best Intercontinental
Ballistic Missile

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Weapon System crew,

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which was crucial to the
Wing's Blanchard trophy win

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as Air Force Global Strike Command's

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best Intercontinental
Ballistic Missile Wing

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during the 2019 Global
Strike Challenge competition.

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Finally, his group rapidly
developed and executed

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contingency plans in response
to the COVID-19 pandemic,

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initiating extended alerts and
personal protection measures

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guaranteeing the nation's most responsive,

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no fail nuclear combat
mission is always ready.

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The superior initiative,
outstanding leadership

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and personal endeavor
displayed by Colonel Menuey

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reflects great credit upon himself

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and the United States Air Force.

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Attention to orders, special
order number G020017.

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By direction of the Commander
Colonel Christopher Menuey,

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will relinquish command
to Colonel Kenneth McGhee,

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Commander of the 341st Operations Group,

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Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana,

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effective 15th of July, 2020,

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signed Colonel Jennifer Reeves.

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Ladies and gentlemen,
Colonel Christopher Menuey.

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- Good morning or good
afternoon or evening,

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depending on when you're pressing play

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to watch this virtual
Change of Command Ceremony.

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I wanna thank you for
taking time out of your day

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to join us for this special occasion.

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While the format is different,

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the significance is still the same.

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As I hand off the three
41st Operations Group flag

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to an amazing officer and
(mumbles), Colonel Kenny McGhee.

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He is absolutely the perfect
person to lead this group.

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For me, this is an important
and final opportunity

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to recognize and thank the incredible team

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that I've had the privilege
to serve alongside

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for the last two years.

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First, I wanna thank Colonel Reeves

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for your trust and confidence in me

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and the men and women
of the Operations Group,

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your leadership and a heart for this Wing

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was truly inspiring

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and I learned so much from
your mentorship and example

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that will stay with me
throughout my career.

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Thank you to the Wing Vice
Commanders, Pete and Rusty,

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and all my fellow group
Commanders during my time here,

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Dave, Heron, Jeremy, Marcus,
Nate, Frank and Lisa,

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I've had an absolute
blast working with you

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and greatly appreciated
your friendship and teamwork

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and executing our nuclear ICBM mission.

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Thank you to my Chiefs, Shane and Marco,

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and my First Sergeants
in front office staff.

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I could always count on you
for advice, honest feedback,

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sound judgment and recommendations,

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and your tenacious work ethic
that put our airman first

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and ensured we did everything
we could to take care of them.

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Thank you to my deputies,

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Hawk and Kevin and Squadron Commanders.

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Also Kevin Jeff, Steven,
Aaron, Troy and Dustin.

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What an amazing team of leaders?

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All the success our group has had

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is because of your leadership
and care for our airman.

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It was awesome to watch you command

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and provide nuclear
combat-ready forces 24/7, 365.

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Thank you to all the
341st Ops Group airman,

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officers, enlisted civilian,
active guard and reserve,

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you make this mission happen.

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You have achieved so many
amazing accomplishments,

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but behind all the
individual and unit awards,

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what I'm most proud of is
what's behind that recognition.

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It's what you demonstrate
every single day,

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resolute character, unceasing
pursuit of excellence

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and caring teamwork to protect our nation.

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I have no doubt that you will
continue to give your all

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and achieve even greater success

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under Colonel McGhee's leadership.

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And lastly, I wanna say
thank you to my family.

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To my wife, Tanya, I love you

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and couldn't do this without you.

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I can't fully express how much your love,

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support and encouragement, strengthens

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and helps me to be the
leader I need to be.

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To my boys Michael and Jonathan,

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I love you both very much
and I'm so proud of you.

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I know that while the moves aren't easy,

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you are all in on our family
serving this great nation.

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Being the 341st Operations Group Commander

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has been my greatest honor

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and the best assignment I've ever had.

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I will never forget
serving with the 10th ACEs,

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12th Red Dogs, 490th Far Siders,

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OSS Screaming Eagles and OGV,

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you are the most
dedicated and lethal group

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in the world's greatest Air Force.

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- [Todd] Congratulations Chris,
good luck to your new job,

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we're all counting on you.

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- Ma'am, I relinquish command.

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(lively upbeat music)

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- Ma'am, I assume command.

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Good morning, I'm honored
that you would take the time

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out of your busy day

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to celebrate this momentous
occasion with me and my family.

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You know, even without
the threat of COVID-19,

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it would be difficult for
many of my family and friends

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to make it to Montana.

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So the virtual option isn't so bad.

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First of all, I'd like to thank God

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for making this day possible
and always watching over me.

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Colonel Reeves, Ma'am,
thank you for your trust

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and confidence in my abilities
to feel this position.

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I will not let you down.

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Captain Corey Hall, Chaplain Messiah,

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Public Affairs of the Protocol Office,

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thank you for your assistance
in making this event happen.

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Not a traditional Change
of Command Ceremony,

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you've done a great job

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in making this day memorable
for me and my family.

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Thank you Colonel Chris and Tanya Menuey

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for such a warm welcome

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and your support for me and my family

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during our transition from DC to Montana.

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Furthermore, thanks Colonel Menuey

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for the outstanding
leadership and guidance.

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You've demonstrated
over the past few years

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and posturing the group
for future success.

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I definitely have big shoes to fill.

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Godspeed and safe travels

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as you and your family make
the transition to Minot

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to lead the Rough Riders.

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They were extremely fortunate

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to be getting such an
outstanding leadership team.

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This is my second time around to Malmstrom

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with the first being my
arrival in late 1999,

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as a member of the 490th Missile
Squadron, the Far Siders.

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From then until now,

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I'm grateful to have
a long list of friends

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and mentors who have largely contributed

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to me becoming the man that I am today.

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Leaders like Ashley Elder, Geo
Frazier and Orpheus Mitchell

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have been instrumental in
mentoring and molding me

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since the humble beginning of my career

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as a Second Lieutenant to
the officer that I am today.

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I am eternally grateful to
close friends, too many to name,

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who at different times in my life,

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were there to motivate me, inspire me,

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celebrate my highs and more importantly,

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pick me up when I stumbled.

21:17.450 --> 21:19.678
Words cannot express a
debt of gratitude I have

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for so many people who have
made lasting impacts on my life.

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So for now, I'll just say thank you.

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To my guardian angel, Doris McGhee,

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thank you for the example you set,

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the inspiration that you continue to be

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and a lifetime of prayers you offered

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that continue to sustain and protect me.

21:38.274 --> 21:41.353
To my dad, Buford McGhee
who turns 80 this year,

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thank you for your
military service, support,

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love and encouragement
throughout the course of my life,

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to my aunt Gene,

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who upon hearing that I was
coming back to Montana said,

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well, I can't exactly
repeat what she said,

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just know that it was up with love

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and that she has no intention

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of coming this far North to visit me.

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I love you

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and I look forward to seeing
you routinely on FaceTime.

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To my brothers, sister, cousins
and other family members,

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thanks for your support.

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Looking at the current situation,

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I'm so thankful that
we had the opportunity

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to celebrate my last promotion in person.

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I can't wait to see you guys
on our Sundays Zoom calls.

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To Lindsey McGhee, thanks for
your support for this career,

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your friendship and all
the heavy lifting you do

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on co-parenting are phenomenal kids.

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Two to three Zs; Zurich,
Zachary, and Zayna,

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it is for you that I do this.

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Thanks for challenging me, growing me

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and giving me the opportunity

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to have major roles in your lives.

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You are indeed daily proof
of God's love for me.

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And finally, to the man and women

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of the 341st Operations
Group and Team Malmstrom,

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thank you in advance for your support

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over the next few years.

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I am eager to share experiences,

22:59.941 --> 23:02.056
celebrate hard-fought victories

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and diligently worked
through tough challenges

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while never losing focus on our mission

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to ensure the day-to-day combat readiness

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of Malmstrom Missile Alert Facilities

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and Minuteman-III Intercontinental
Ballistic Missile.

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Thank you again for virtually
attending the ceremony

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and I look forward to seeing you around.

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- [Jacqueline] Thank you Colonel McGhee

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and congratulations on assuming command

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of the 341st Operations Group.

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On behalf of the men and women
of the 341st Missile Wing,

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we would like to welcome
you and your family

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to Malmstrom Air Force Base.

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- [Rasheem] Colonel McGhee,
I wanna congratulate you

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on this milestone in
your Air Force career.

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I know the men women at the 341st OG,

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they're losing an outstanding
leader in Colonel Menuey,

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but I also know

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that they're gaining
outstanding leader in you.

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I wanna thank you for your friendship,

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I wanna thank you for your brotherhood,

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I wanna thank you for
always being there for me

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when I needed someone to talk to

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and I needed someone to confide in

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and kinda set me straight.

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To the strikers at a 341st OG,

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I've known Colonel
McGhee for over 20 years,

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there's some qualities
that I've seen in him

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is number one, he's humble.

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He doesn't care who gets the credit,

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he doesn't care who gets to shine.

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So be innovative there with him.

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He's bold, he isn't
fearful of uncertainty,

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he has the courage to
challenge the status quo.

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So I always, as the old man has your back.

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He's measured, he
understands the complexities

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and challenges that you guys are facing.

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So now that the old man
understands, give him time.

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And finally, he's a thinker.

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He's always thinking of
ways to make himself better,

25:06.715 --> 25:10.931
to make you better, so question
him and make him think,

25:10.931 --> 25:12.681
that's what he likes.

25:13.599 --> 25:17.022
And finally like I said, I'm proud of you,

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we're happy for you, we love you

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and we'll always be here for
you whenever you need us.

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Again, proud of you
brother, congratulations.

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- [Victor] Colonel Kenny McGhee,

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congratulations on your
assumption of command

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of the 341st Operations Group.

25:38.136 --> 25:40.143
My family and I are static,

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as you meet this major milestone
in your Air Force career,

25:43.450 --> 25:45.586
right now I'm excited for the airmen

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who will grow and achieve

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because of your outstanding
leadership and care.

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Now, while I believe squadron command

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is the pinnacle of any leadership
position in our Air Force,

25:56.825 --> 25:59.857
group command is unique for
it will be the first time

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that you will command other commanders

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and they will succeed or fail

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based upon your clear commander's intent,

26:08.477 --> 26:12.477
the professional and
personal example you set,

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but more importantly,

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because of the mentorship
you will provide them

26:15.978 --> 26:17.128
as you work together

26:17.128 --> 26:21.067
to achieve our national
strategic objectives.

26:21.067 --> 26:23.393
All the best in your future endeavor

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and again, congratulations

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on leading America's treasure, our airman.

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- [Jacqueline] On behalf
of Colonel Reeves,

26:36.011 --> 26:37.815
Colonel McGhee and Colonel Menuey,

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thank you for joining us virtually

26:39.729 --> 26:43.096
for the 341st OG Change
of Command Ceremony.

26:43.096 --> 26:46.548
We sincerely hope you enjoyed
today's Change of Command.

26:46.548 --> 26:48.876
Have an outstanding Air Force Day.

26:48.876 --> 26:52.043
(lively upbeat music)