CMSAF: Impressed with Airmen

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jennifer Viveiros
  • 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs
F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. --  The chief master sergeant of the Air Force saw Airman involved in reinvigorating the nuclear enterprise up close and personal during a visit here Aug. 27 to 28. 

Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy visited Warren as his last stop on a tour of Air Force Space Command. The tour included stops at North American Aerospace Defense Command at Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station, Colo. and Headquarters Air Force Space Command and U.S Northern Command at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo. 

Chief Roy has been the service's top enlisted for seven weeks, and in that time, he has been on the road for about six weeks. He said his goal, with this marathon-like trip, was to gain a better understanding of the Airman perspective. 

"How can I represent those enlisted men and women if I don't know what they are doing?" Chief Roy said. "It's important to see the procedures they go through to operate their facilities. I need to understand all of the intricate details of their job. In doing so, I understand what's required more so in their development." 

During his visit to Warren, Chief Roy accomplished this mission by spending the night at a missile alert facility. He said he was impressed by the Airmen there. He was thoroughly impressed, he added, with their level of professionalism and their ability to comply with strict, established procedures, regardless of rank. 

At the all call, Chief Roy said he was proud that young Airmen, such as those who work at the MAF, are being given more responsibilities, and they are succeeding. 

"We have very young Airmen performing missions that were previously assigned to senior enlisted members", he said. "They are doing their jobs with pride and self confidence." 

Training and preparing Airmen earlier in their careers is essential because their development is a key factor, particularly, in reinvigorating the nuclear enterprise, he said. 

"We are the best Air Force in the world and have to complete this mission without fail," he said. "We're going to continue to focus on the training and the professional development of the enlisted force." 

This reinvigoration includes the recent activation of Air Force Global Strike Command. 

The new command "brings focus to the nuclear enterprise in a way that will help with policies, procedures and operating instructions," he said. 

He explained that AFGSC will allow leadership to focus on the intricate details of the nuclear mission. 

"We have a huge mission in the defense of our nation," he said. "This element of the nuclear enterprise gives us that umbrella of security in the whole deterrent effort." 

In addition to the war the nuclear force is deterring, the other conflicts around the world have the chief's attention. He emphasized that the fight against terrorism cannot be passed to our children or grand children. 

"This is our generation's issue," he stated. 

To better prepare Airmen for this fight, the Chief mentioned he's interested in finding ways to make today's Airmen more capable in working with other nations and with the other branches of the U.S. military. 

"The fact of the matter is, we were attacked as a nation, and we need to work together to ensure the security of our nation," he said. 

Chief Roy concluded his all call by reinstating he could not be more impressed with the Airmen he has met along his trip, and was going home with a greater appreciation of them and Air Force Space Command. 

Before exiting, he left the group with one piece of advice. 

"Be the best Airman you can be," he said. "Take advantage of every opportunity to further advance yourself, and you will succeed."