AF top enlisted leader visits Holloman

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Sondra Escutia
  • 49th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. (AFNS) --  The chief master sergeant of the Air Force visited Aug. 10 here to talk to base Airmen and see the Holloman Air Force Base mission. 

Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy was given a tour of the base and shared his priorities with base members.

"It's easy to align my goals with the Air Force priorities, that of the nuclear enterprise, developing Airmen and caring for families, working with our joint and coalition partners when forward deployed, recapturing acquisition excellence, and modernizing our air and space inventory," Chief Roy said. 

One of his goals as chief master sergeant of the Air Force, to foster the relationship with joint and coalition partners, is exhibited at Holloman AFB. The relationship between the U.S. and German air forces here dates back to 1992 when the German air force first brought training to Holloman AFB.  The German air force Flying Training Center was activated as a tenant unit four years later.

"How can you tie coalition partnership in more so than right here at Holloman?" Chief Roy said. "When I visited with the command chief and the commander of the German air force Flying Training Center, the fact that they do feel a sense of pride of being here at Holloman shows they are part of this team."

The chief said he hopes to expand the partnership with coalition forces by receiving personnel from different countries, and sending U.S. Airmen to different countries and schools. He said he believes that time is not far off.

Chief Roy demonstrated his priority of developing Airmen and caring for their families by making a predawn trip to see off a group of 49th Civil Engineer Squadron and 49th Security Forces Squadron Airmen who were deploying.

"It's a sense of pride and airmenship to see the training that we have put these forces through and see them primed, and ready to go out there to do the mission," Chief Roy said.

Chief Roy told Airmen to take care of their families while they're away, whether it be their spouse, children, mother or father.

Chief Roy also attended an airman leadership school graduation. He said attending the ceremony brought back memories of himself as a young NCO.

"We have these brand new Airmen who have just gone through this absolutely dynamic training, the best training in the world," said the 16th chief master sergeant of the Air Force. "We're going to send them out, charge them up to take the front line in being a first line supervisor ... charged with not just their actions, but others' actions as well."

After visiting with Airmen and experiencing Holloman's mission first-hand, including that of the unmanned aircraft systems formal training unit, Chief Roy said he was impressed.

"It's a mission of complete success," Chief Roy said. "As we bring on new air frames, add squadrons and bring the new UAS mission, and of course, as the German air force continues to be here and partner with our Airmen, I think it's a dynamic place."