HQ RIO holds Commander's Call; chili cookoff

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Timm Huffman
  • HQ RIO Public Affairs
BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. --  Col. Christopher E. Cronce, Headquarters Individual Reservist Readiness and Integration Organization, held the group's first commander's call at the Air Reserve Personnel Center, Wednesday.

September 30 and the end of fiscal year 2014 marked the official stand down of the Readiness Management Group. HQ RIO took full command of the individual reserve force, Oct. 1.

During the commander's call, Cronce presented Meritorious Service Medals to Master Sgts. Jerrod Kester, HQ RIO first sergeant, and Lindsay Estell, IR medical. 

Following the awards, the commander commended the work his staff put in to ensure a successful transition. He also reminded everyone to look out for one another and to be good wingmen.

"Even though suicide prevention month is over, it's our 24/7/365 responsibility to take care of one another," he said.

Chief Master Sgt. J. Seth Perron, HQ RIO superintendent, also spoke and reiterated the Cronce's sentiments by stating that RIO is a family and its members should look out for and take care of one another.

Kester also took the stage to give a safety brief about winterizing vehicles in advance of the upcoming cold season. He encouraged everyone to take their vehicles in to have fluids exchanged and to think about using winter-style tires.

Following the commander's call, the HQ RIO staff held their first chili cookoff. Members supplied nine varieties of chili, as well as a smorgasbord of corn breads, chips and desserts.

Airmen and civilians from HQ RIO and the Air Reserve Personnel Center tasted and rated each chili. After all the voting ballots were turned in, Master Sgt. Thomas Metcalf's "Drunken Chili" earned the number one spot. Second place went to Tech. Sgt. Jaime Ceasar, HQ RIO command support staff, for her "White Chicken Chili."

The responsibilites of managing the IR program began migrating from the RMG to HQ RIO, Feb. 1, as a result of Air Force Reserve Command's decision to consolidate personnel transactional work at HQ Air Reserve Personnel Center, Buckley AFB, Colorado. HQ RIO is responsible for unique IR management functions which fall outside the scope and function of ARPC.