Top enlisted Airman visits Nellis, focuses on junior Airmen's issues

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (AFNS) -- The 16th chief master sergeant of the Air Force visited Nellis Air Force Base Airmen Feb. 2, during his visit to the Las Vegas area for the Air Force Agile Combat Support Symposium.

During Chief Master Sgt. James A. Roy's visit, he focused on issues and concerns of junior grade Airmen.

"Our junior Airmen are the future of the Air Force," Chief Roy said. "It only makes sense that we give our young Airmen the tools needed to push our Air Force to new heights in the 21st century."

Chief Roy began his trip to Nellis, with a visit to the U.S. Air Force Aerial Demonstration Team Thunderbirds. While there, he addressed the enlisted Airmen of the team and was presented a Thunderbird lithograph by Lt. Col. Case Cunningham, the Thunderbirds commander.

"This was my first time visiting the Thunderbirds," Chief Roy said. "It was a unique experience, and I had a wonderful time talking with the Airmen there."

After visiting with the Thunderbirds, Chief Roy had lunch with 15 Airmen from different squadrons around Nellis AFB and discussed training concerns and professional military education opportunities.

"Probably the most important of my priorities as the chief master sergeant of the Air Force is deliberately developing Airmen," Chief Roy said. "The three aspects of this development: training, education and experiences; are the most important tools we can give to these Airmen, for them to be successful in their career. I would be remiss in my duties as a senior leader if I didn't ensure our junior Airmen are getting this triangle of development and find solutions if they aren't."

During an enlisted call, Chief Roy focused on joint training and how it coincides with the development of Airmen.

After the conclusion of the enlisted call, Chief Roy toured the unaccompanied Airmen housing. During the tour, he learned about various quality-of-life improvements taking place in the dormitories. 

Chief Roy concluded his second visit to Nellis AFB with a tour of the deployment control center where he visited the individual protective equipment team. The team was named the superior performance team during the 99 ABW operational readiness inspection, Jan. 25 through 29. 

"Today it is extremely important to be able to prepare and deploy Airmen as well as reintegrate them back into their squadron when they return." Chief Roy said. "Airmen now are gaining valuable training in an area that Airmen from my era didn't receive that much of. That training is combat training. What you individuals at the deployment center do is instrumental to that training and accomplishing the mission for overseas contingency operations."