Chief Brady bids farewell Published July 18, 2012 By Senior Airman Andrew McLaughlin 434 ARW Public Affairs GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Seeing double on a hot July afternoon is normally a bad sign, but not so at a special ceremony held here recently. Amidst family, friends and fellow Airmen, Chief Master Sgt. Larry Brady said goodbye to the Air Force after 28 years of service during his retirement ceremony at Grissom July 8. Chief Brady has served in various leadership positions during his time here at Grissom, including over a year as the 434th Air Refueling Wing command chief. Making this retirement ceremony stand out was the person presiding over the event was Brady's identical twin brother, U.S. Army Capt. Garry Brady, a flight surgeon at Hunter Army Air Field, Ga. During the ceremony, his brother spoke of the influence the chief had as a mentor and how he saw enlisted Airman in a way that surpassed the rank on their shoulder. "He looks at their hearts," the captain said of his brother. Captain Brady presented him with a meritorious service medal, his certificate of retirement and a certificate of appreciation, after which, the chief rendered his first salute to his brother. Being identical twins isn't the only thing the Brady brothers have in common. Captain Brady joined the Air Force shortly after his brother, and both served at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. Although the captain went into the medical field, unlike his brother who started in communications, this eventually had an influence on the chief, who said it was his brother's work that inspired him to change his own career path and join the medical field as well. The captain also presented the chief's wife, Lisa, with a certificate of appreciation as well to recognize the support she has given her husband throughout his career. Retired Col. William Cahoon, former 434th ARW commander, said kind words about Chief Brady before presenting him with a large shadowbox that highlighted his career. Speaking to the crowd, the chief reflected on his career with emotion and thanked his family for their support over the years. He also said he wanted the Airmen of the 434th ARW to continue to strive for excellence. "I empower you to be the best individual that you can be in your field of knowledge," he said. Chief Brady's Air Force career began in 1984 when he left his hometown of Winamac, Ind., to attend basic military training. After technical training school, he moved on to Elmendorf where he served as a telecommunications systems equipment specialist with the 1931st Information Systems Squadron. In 1987, he left the regular Air Force and joined the Reserve, now working with the 930th Communications Squadron at Grissom. He later decided to change career fields and became an aeromedical flight surgeon technician in 1992. From this time forward, he held various positions within the medical units under the 434th ARW. In February 2009, he took on the position of command chief master sergeant and the responsibilities that came with it. The chief entered the Air Force career as an airman basic and steadily moved up the ranks throughout the years. As is common in a retirement ceremony of a chief master sergeant, a formation representing all enlisted ranks posted in front of the stage and passed down the American Flag as Brady's dates of promotion were narrated to the crowd, summarizing his career. The 434th ARW is the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. Stay connected to Grissom on Facebook and Twitter.
