RAF MILDENHALL, England -- Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy meets with a group of first line supervisors in Hangar 814 here March 13, 2012. Roy addressed issues, concerns and rumors brought to them by the Airmen they supervise. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Jerilyn Quintanilla)
RAF MILDENHALL, England -- Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy speaks to Airmen at the First Term Airmen Center here March 13, 2012. During his visit to the base, Roy also met with a group of first line supervisors and hosted an all call for RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath personnel. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Jerilyn Quintanilla)
RAF MILDENHALL, England -- Chief Master Sgt. Christopher Powell, 100th Air Refueling Wing command chief, explains to Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy, right, how the upcoming International Tanker Symposium in May will build partnerships between the U.S. Air Force and several European nations, during a wing mission brief with Col. Christopher Kulas, 100th ARW commander, at wing headquarters here March 13, 2012. Roy conducted site visits, addressing first-line supervisors and company grade officer supervisors, as well as meeting wing leadership. He also visited nearby RAF Lakenheath and held an all call, which was attended by military members from both bases. (U.S. Air Force photo/Karen Abeyasekere)
RAF MILDENHALL, England – Paula Roy (front left), wife of Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy, looks over various programs offered by the 100th Force Support Squadron while Stephanie Lown, Bob Hope Community Center Director, explains the purpose of each one during a visit to the facility here March 13, 2012. Roy accompanied her husband during site visits to RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath, touring various support facilities and discussing their effectiveness with program directors. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Austin M. May)
by Staff Sgt. Tabitha M. Lee
100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
3/14/2012 - ROYAL AIR FORCE MILDENHALL, England (AFNS) -- The chief master sergeant of the Air Force visited RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath March 13, to discuss important Air Force topics with Airmen.
CMSAF James Roy visited several locations on both bases and said he was impressed by the professionalism of Airmen.
"When you enter the gate at both bases, you can just see the sense of pride," said Roy. "When you look at the operations that are going on in the world today, the units assigned to both bases are affecting the battle every single day."
During his visit to RAF Mildenhall, Roy visited the First Term Airmen's Center to discuss the importance of the Air Force training program and the benefits of FTAC.
He also met with several of the base's first-line supervisors to discuss issues and rumors that are currently troubling young Airmen.
"We don't need Airmen worried about their retirement," he said, as he addressed the subject later during an all-call. "We need them focusing on the mission and upgrade training."
Roy's visit included an all-call at RAF Lakenheath, where he spoke to an audience of more than 2,000 enlisted and commissioned Airmen from both RAF bases.
During the all-call, Roy offered a concept he said he borrowed from Gen. Edward A. Rice Jr., Air Education and Training Command commander, about "pivoting the enterprise."
"Changes to the National Defense Strategy will affect the way we operate," said Roy. "The budget will change us. You are the experts in your particular functions, and you're going to help us through this. You have the knowledge to help us change the enterprise."
Although things are changing, there is still a job to do, said Roy.
"We have a mission to do for our nation, and we need to keep that in mind, but we are not going to have the same resources that we have had in the past," said Roy.
The final topic the CMSAF addressed was resiliency which he said was not just another program.
"This is a topic I personally take to heart, and your Air Force leadership is concerned about it.
"It's a culture of taking care of each other, and it's an addition to the wingman concept," said Roy. "Human life matters, and each and every one of you matters to (Air Force leadership)."
Before leaving, the CMSAF thanked the local community for their support of the U.S. Air Force in England.
"The Royal Air Force is a great partner and one of our strongest allies," said Roy. "The community around each base supports our Airmen, and we appreciate that."
