Chief motivated to serve Warren

  • Published
  • By Chief Master Sgt. Marty Anderson
  • 90th Missile Wing command chief
F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. --  Foremost, I would like to thank all of you for the warm welcome I have received upon my arrival. It is nice to have members come and introduce themselves and welcome me to F.E. Warren. Your professionalism and day-to-day courtesies towards me and each other motivate me to work even harder to take care of the members of this wing. 

I want to take this opportunity to provide three fundamental truths I live by in order to help you understand how I think and my intentions towards handling my new responsibilities.

First, if you don't want to know the answer, don't ask me the question. I am a very straight forward person. If you ever want to know what I am thinking all you have to do is ask, but be prepared for the answer.

Quite honestly, you usually won't even have to ask. I will let you know, good or bad.

I believe honesty is the best policy and, in our business, is the only way we develop mutual trust. I need to state that I don't ever intend for the truth to be spiteful or create ill will towards anyone, but if that is how a person takes it, so be it. I have an obligation to be direct and to the point so there are no misunderstandings.

Second, I don't pick and choose which standards I follow, nor do I pick and choose which standards I enforce. Bottom line, neither do you. Ninetieth Missile Wing Commander Col. Greg Tims' philosophy of, "Don't run from danger, run towards it," applies to this as well. If you are a person who chooses not to adhere to the professional standards of performance and conduct that we expect then, at some point in time, you will have a bad day. If you are person who chooses not to confront those that fail to meet those high standards, you are going to experience even a worse day. In my career I can't count how many times I have heard the words, "Only if I would have said something or intervened I might have prevented this situation." I expect our members to have the mental toughness to act and get involved. I promise you, if you are trying to do the right thing, you will never be standing alone.

Third, I fight for what is right. This may mean looking someone in the eye and telling that person they are not measuring up. But it also means, a particular process may not be fair or equitable to our Airmen, and I have a professional and moral obligation to challenge that process.

Now an argument can be made about my definition of what is right. However, I did not get promoted to the rank of chief master sergeant or selected for this position based on poor judgment. I fight for what is truly in the best interest of all. If someone does not perform to standards, they negatively impact the unit's mission. Likewise, if a process is unfair then faith is lost in the institution as whole. I will not tolerate either of these situations.

These three principles guide my everyday actions. I have high standards not only for myself but for you as well. Our mission is critical to preventing other countries from trying to destroy the freedoms we and our families enjoy. From what I have observed, each of you equally understands the importance of our mission and carries out your daily tasks as if our country depends on it -- it does!

I am truly proud to be surrounded by dedicated professionals as evident by your performance and conduct. I am inspired to do my best to take care of this wing's mission and the people assigned to it. I look forward to serving with each of you, and if I can be of any assistance please don't hesitate to call, write or stop by. I am here for you.