President to meet with senior enlisted advisers

  • Published
  • By Gerry J. Gilmore
  • American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON (AFNS) --  President Barack Obama is scheduled to meet Jan. 30 with the U.S. military's senior enlisted advisers at the White House, a senior Defense Department official said.
 
The armed services' enlisted advisers are the senior noncommissioned officers for the Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine Corps. The president also will greet the Coast Guard's top enlisted leader, spokesman Bryan Whitman said.

President Obama is slated to meet with Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley, Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth O. Preston, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Rick D. West, Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Carlton W. Kent and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Charles W. Bowen.

The senior enlisted leaders serve as personal advisers to their respective civilian service secretaries and military chiefs of staff or commandants on matters concerning enlisted-force welfare, readiness, morale and utilization.

The meeting is a way for President Obama to gain insight and perspective about the enlisted force through the accumulated experience of the military's most senior enlisted leaders, Mr. Whitman said.

Just as President Obama met with the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon Jan. 28, Mr. Whitman said, the commander in chief also "feels that it's important to talk" to the armed service's senior enlisted advisers.

Comment on this story   (comments may be published on Air Force Link)

View the comments/letters page