Kern pins on eagles Published April 28, 2015 By Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Mota 434th ARW Public Affairs GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Airmen and family members filled a room to witness a long-standing tradition as one of Grissom's own pinned on eagles. Col. Therese Kern, 434th Aerospace Medicine Squadron commander, was recently promoted to the rank of colonel in front of family, friends and peers during a pin-on ceremony held here recently. Col. Doug Schwartz, 434th Air Refueling Wing commander, presided over the ceremony thanking the newly promoted colonel for her military service and dedication to the Air Force. "I am so honored to be able to preside over your ceremony," said Schwartz. "To go from enlisted all the way to the rank of colonel is very challenging and takes a person with a lot of energy, a lot of drive and a lot of determination; that alone speaks volumes about the type of individual [Kern] is." Kern, who began her Air Force career as an enlisted medical technician at 440th Medical Squadron, General Mitchell Air Reserve Station, Wisconsin, thanked friends and family for their support of her military career. "I am so humbled that so many of you have traveled to share this day with me," said Kern. "I want to thank my family and recognize them for the support they have giving me throughout my military career; they have always been there and have been my biggest supporters." Kern, a Wisconsin native and board certified nurse practitioner, graduated in 1987 with her Bachelor of Science in nursing and went on to commission in the medical corps. Kern has used her medical expertise across the globe in support of Operations Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. She began her journey here July 2013, serving as chief nurse and took over command of the 434th AMDS April 2014. The history of the prestigious rank dates back to around 1505, when the Spanish King Ferdinand reorganized part of his army into twenty units called colunelas. These consisted of about 1,000 to 1,250 men further organized into companies with their commander being named a coronel. The French, and later the British, adopted the title, and although initially retaining the original Spanish pronunciation, the British soon used the pronunciation of 'kernel' we're familiar with today. The eagle insignia led to the informal term 'full bird colonel.' The 434th AMDS is part of the 434th Air Refueling Wing, the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command, as well as three Army Reserve units. Airmen, Soldiers and Marines routinely deploy from Grissom around the world in support of the Department of Defense mission and U.S. strategic objectives. Stay connected with the 434th ARW on Facebook and Twitter.
