Enlisted leaders hit the road to set example

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Lee Roberts
  • Air Force News Agency
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. (AFPN) --  They stretched, did push-ups, sit-ups, formed up, then literally hit the road to make examples of themselves.

Nearly 400 senior enlisted leaders at the first Senior Enlisted Leader Summit, including instructors and students at the Air Force First Sergeants Academy, exercised and ran one-and one-half miles early July 22 at Gunter Annex to send a message to the rest of the Air Force that fitness is a leadership priority.

Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley, who led the group during the run, said kicking off the summit with fitness in the forefront correlated directly with the recent announcement that enlisted and officer performance reports would now gauge whether Airmen meet or don't meet fitness standards.

"We kicked off the Senior Enlisted Leader Summit with physical conditioning because we are warriors, we are an expeditionary Air Force, and it's important to show that our senior leaders are physically fit," Chief McKinley stressed.

Chief Master Sgt. Peggy Savage, who will soon become the new command chief master sergeant at the 22nd Air Refueling Wing, McConnell Air Force Base, Kan., said fitness wasn't being annotated and taken seriously by the force. Fitness has to be emphasized by leaders because "we can't lead our Airmen if we're not doing it ourselves," she said.

Commanders in the combat zones depend on Airmen to be fit, Chief Savage continued.

"Our leadership down range needs us to be fit to fight, to withstand the heat, and to fight and win," she said.

Chief Master Sgt. Robbie Bogard, the safety career field manager at Kirtland AFB, N.M., said, "Fitness is an important thing that all of us has to do, especially with the new enlisted performance report system that has a go or no-go standard. Having us do PT here today sets an example for the Airmen back at our bases."

Chief Bogard said he is looking forward to hearing from senior leaders and general officers during the rest of the Senior Enlisted Leader Summit. "I'm anxious to hear what they have to say."

Chief Master Sgt. Pamela Derrow, Air Force Senior NCO Academy commandant, said the school and its staff are excited about hosting the summit and being part of a collaboration to benefit those in attendance while strengthening the Air Force.

"It's going to be great because they're going to be able to work on issues that impact them," Chief Derrow said, referring to the senior leaders.

Chief McKinley emphasized that much of the week's agenda is focused on issues affecting Airmen, such as fitness and support for the war on terrorism. The chief added that some of what is discussed this week will be relayed to Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley.

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