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7th Air Force, former 18th Wing commander returns to rededicate Erwin PME Center

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Maeson L. Elleman
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  The new Erwin Professional Military Education Center on Kadena Air Base, Japan, was rededicated at a ceremony Dec. 16 in the new facility after completion of the more than two-year construction project.

Among the array of upgrades are a new library and improvements to offices and classrooms to facilitate the further instilment of professional development for NCOs who pass through the halls.

"I believe anytime you have a great work environment, you perform better," said Chief Master Sgt. James Laurent, PME center commandant. "We have the newest and, in my opinion, best school in the Air Force."

However, Laurent said there's more to the learning environment than just the building itself.

"It's not just the school, but the great Airmen who teach and the Airmen who come in to learn," the chief continued. "From the moment you arrive on campus and walk in the door you realize this is an outstanding environment to be in."

Lt. Gen. Jeff Remington, 7th Air Force commander, presided over the event, but it wasn't his first time on Kadena - nor was it his first time dedicating the Erwin PME Center.

Remington, then a brigadier general, was the 18th Wing commander from April 2002 to June 2004. In 2003, he dedicated the previous facility in the name of Staff Sgt. Henry "Red" Erwin, a World War II Medal of Honor recipient who saved the lives of the crew aboard his B-29 Superfortress April 12, 1945.

"I think it's great that I get to rededicate it," said Remington about being invited back to Okinawa from his home station in Korea for the ceremony. "Dedicating it the first time was an honor to [pay tribute to] a Medal of Honor [recipient], but to do it again in a brand new building is even better."

Laurent said the original dedication of the center to Erwin was a dedication of the Air Force's NCOs to uphold the values of integrity, service before self and excellence in all we do.

"This is the Henry 'Red' Erwin PME Center," Laurent said. "We are named for an American hero who embodied our core values before they were core values. We owe it to his legacy to recognize his sacrifice and service."

Remington said planning for the new center was initiated when he was the base commander almost a decade ago.

Now that the 34-year lieutenant general is retiring in January 2012, coming back to Kadena can be considered the finale to the massive construction project.

"We started the funding and discussion for that building in 2002, so it was a real thrill and honor to see it come to a conclusion - to actually see us spend money and build a building to teach our NCO corps about what it is we need them to do," the general said. "That's one of the reasons we're the most powerful airspace and cyberspace air force ever on the face of the Earth."

Laurent said the immense development process couldn't have come together without the aid of the numerous organizations that bore the load.

"There is a boatload of people to thank, from the contractors, to the amazing 18th [Civil Engineer Squadron] and 718th CES teams who were vital to getting us settled in," said Laurent. "Also, my staff and cadre who really made the move happen and use the full capabilities of this new facility to provide the best academic environment for our students."