Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray speaks to Airmen attending the Mathies Airman Leadership School during his visit to RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom, Friday, March 10, 2006. He spoke to the Class 2006-D Airmen about mentorship, force shaping and the steady increases in military pay compared to the civilian environment. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Kristi Emler)
Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray speaks to Airmen attending the Mathies Airman Leadership School during his visit to RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom, Friday, March 10, 2006. He spoke to the Class 2006-D Airmen about mentorship, force shaping and the steady increases in military pay compared to the civilian environment. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Kristi Emler)
by Senior Airman Vanessa Young
48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
3/15/2006 - RAF LAKENHEATH, United Kingdom (AFPN) -- As threats against the United States evolve, Airmen can expect the Air Force to evolve as well said the Air Force’s senior enlisted member during his visit here, Friday, March 10.
Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray talked about the Air Force’s evolution and the initiatives leadership is taking to modernize the Air Force and its Airmen.
“We’ve changed in the past, and we are going to continue to undergo change in the future,” Chief Murray said. “We’ve always been an evolving force.”
He said as new technology and new equipment are introduced, Airmen will see a reduction in the personnel structure. Some Air Force specialty codes will realign, some will decrease and some will grow to meet demands.
“We have some numbers floating out there that indicate in the next five years we may be 40,000 less Airmen than we are today,” he said. “Toward the summer, I think we’ll be able to give the Air Force a clearer snapshot about where we want to go with that.”
The chief said Air Force leadership has looked at the deployment aspects of our combat expeditionary requirements and plans to create a balance for those career fields deploying longer and more frequently than others.
And, as the Army transforms their structure, the Air Force will provide more tactical air control, combat weather and air operations support to the Army, Chief Murray said.
As an advocate for the enlisted force, the chief said there are many upcoming improvements for Airmen.
From the fundamentals at basic training, to the command senior enlisted leader course for chief master sergeants, professional military education programs will continue to evolve and improve.
“Our PME is the greatest in the world,” the chief said. “But it can be better sequenced for the needs of our Airmen as we shape for the future.”
Bases across the Air Force have standardized professional development centers over the last few years. Air Force leadership started with the basics; extending basic training from six and a half weeks to eight and a half weeks.
In the future, the chief said basic training will include more information about the enemies we are fighting, and will incorporate lessons learned from Afghanistan, Iraq and other contingency areas around the world.
Along with improving PME and training, leadership is also developing education programs to prepare Airmen to work in joint-service environments. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Marine Gen. Peter Pace, recently approved the implementation of the Joint Professional Military Education program.
“This [JPMEP] requires all services to evaluate and ensure we have joint education throughout our ranks from the youngest Airman to the most senior NCO,” Chief Murray said. “It has a joint professional military education course for senior NCOs who are assigned to joint commands. And we’ve implemented a senior-level course primarily for chief master sergeants, sergeants major and master chief petty officers who will serve at the most senior levels in a joint task force or joint organization.”
In addition to joint service training, air and space expeditionary force deployments continue to send Airmen around the world.
“It doesn’t matter today if you are serving in the United Kingdom, in the southeastern United States or in Japan because we are a global force,” the chief said. “Serving in the United Kingdom doesn’t mean the mission focus is just on Europe; it’s serving as a global expeditionary force no matter where home station may be. An Airman serving in the United Kingdom could also serve in Iraq, Afghanistan or Africa.”
Throughout his visit, the chief expressed his gratitude to all servicemembers and their families.
“I have nothing but the greatest appreciation for what our Airmen are doing,” he said. “It is amazing the experience and commitment we continue to have from our Airmen. It’s a busy force, there’s a lot going on in the world, there are a lot of demands that are placed for those of us who are serving in the military, and our people are doing absolutely great.”
