Chiefs discuss issues at AFA symposium

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Russell P. Petcoff
  • Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (AFPN) --  Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley and five command chief master sergeants from the major commands answered a variety questions during a Command Chief Master Sergeant Forum Sept. 16 at the 24th Annual Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition.

A few of the topics covered concerned combat training for Airmen, preparing awards and decorations, and the Enlisted Promotion Report.

The other command chiefs participating at the forum at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel here were Chief Master Sergeants Richard A. Smith, Air National Guard; Stephen C. Sullens, Air Combat Command; Ken McQuiston, U.S. Transportation Command; Richard T. Small, Air Force Space Command; and Arvin K. Davis, U.S. Air Force Academy.

The first question came from the father of a female Airman who said his daughter was not prepared for her combat deployment. He was disappointed to hear the Air Force is backing down on establishing Common Battlefield Airman Training.

Training has "improved greatly in the past few years," Chief McKinley said. Feedback from other services on Airman's preparation for combat duty "has been tremendous," he added.

Chief Sullens echoed Chief McKinley's comments.

"We adjusted fire from the feedback we've received from the field," he said. The current training is meeting the needs of the Air Force in preparing Airmen for combat, the chief added. Setting up a CBAT would not be cost-effective in terms of the small gain in improvement on training Airmen are already receiving.

Chief McQuiston said the Air Force is learning how to improve combat training with each air expeditionary force deployment

Writing awards and decorations brought a question from a forum attendee. The major said her maintenance Airmen spend up to half their time writing decorations. She asked if there is an initiative to streamline the process. She suggested when Airmen meet the standards for a decoration, they should be able to go out and get it.

Chief McQuiston said decorations "focus on outstanding achievement and outstanding performance, and these are things that need to be documented."

"We do the individual a disservice if we don't document," he said.

Chief Sullens focused on what he saw are the problems: varying standards for decorations, a "bidding and rebidding process," and not enough trust in frontline supervisors to do it right.

Chief McKinley said providing Airmen with a proper decoration is one way of taking care of them. He warned getting rid of writing decorations because they may be taking too much time is not the answer but working on the process and the time it takes is the answer.

"When you have Airmen working above and beyond, take the time to write the decoration," said Chief McKinley, who pointed out Army Gen. George S. Patton was personally writing decorations "right smack dab in the middle of World War II."

In addition, it's important to bring Airmen before a unit to receive decorations to recognize what they've done and motivate them to do more, Chief McKinley said.

Staff Sgt. Linn Aubrey, 8th Medical Support Squadron, Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, asked if Chief McKinley is "seeing a more honest and fair rating in our enlisted force" with changes to enlisted evaluation forms.

When he's out talking with crowds of Airmen, the chief said he's asked many times what's he doing about inflation of EPRs.

"I then turn that question around and say, 'What are you doing?'" Chief McKinley said. "Rater's have it within their power to give an honest and accurate assessment of their Airmen. It's all about the integrity of the rater and rating chain."

He pointed out one of the changes to the new EPR form is the wording associated with the rating number. Instead of a "5" being "Immediately Promote" it is now "Truly Among the Best," a "4" being "Above Average" and a "3" is "Average."

"Is every single airman you have truly among the best or do you have some who are just above average or some who are average?" Chief McKinley said. The key is for supervisors to provide an honest evaluation and give Airmen the rating they deserve. Supervisors do a disservice to their Airmen when they give higher scores than warranted because then, what do they need to improve on, he added.

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

View the comments/letters page