CMSAF visits Aviano AB, tackles tough questions

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jessica Hines
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy (AFNS) --  During his recent visit of Air Force bases in Europe, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody spent two days talking with Aviano Airmen, March 28 and 29, getting their viewpoints on some of the Air Force's biggest issues.

In his second month since stepping into the service's highest enlisted position, Cody has traveled great distances to engage with Airmen and families and help answer questions they may have.

During his visit, the 17th CMSAF answered questions about sequestration, education, family programs and more, focusing specifically on the future of the Air Force.

"With some of the tough decisions that we're going to have to make, it will impact some people more than others, and we'll be respectful about that," Cody said. "I think our Airmen need to be prepared for the fact that things are going to change. They have to."

While change may be a driving force, Cody hailed Airmen as the "the best trained, the best educated and best equipped in the world," and wanted to assure all Airmen and their families Air Force leaders are listening.

"What we ask our Airmen to do, what we ask their families to do and sacrifice, must be reasonable and sustainable," Cody said. "I will focus on that until the last day I'm in this position."

The job of senior leaders, according to Cody, will be to consider and establish the "new normal" for the Air Force.

"We will get through this and we will be a better Air Force, just like we're a better Air Force today than we were yesterday," Cody said.

Airmen also addressed concerns over professional military education; fearing computer-based tests will become the norm.

"We are not talking about more CBTs with PME at all," Cody said. "What we're talking about with the transformation of the enlisted PME is how do we use a blended learning approach that is distance learning and in-residence."

According to the chief, the Air Force plans to use "interactive multimedia instruction" to engage Airmen beyond traditional coursework and slide presentations.

"It's very interactive, very high fidelity, and that's what we're working toward," he added.

As a guest speaker for an Aviano Airman Leadership School graduating class, Cody told the future leaders, "Part of leadership is continuing to learn, and if you're not learning, then you're not going to be as effective as you need to be into the future.

"It really is a privilege to serve, and it's a greater privilege to lead," he said. "You need to understand that. All leaders need to understand that."