First Senior Enlisted Leader Summit to convene

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MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. (AFPN) --  The Air Force's senior enlisted leader convenes the first Senior Enlisted Leader Summit at Gunter Annex here July 22 to 27.

This year, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley expanded the list of invitees to include professional military education commandants, career field managers and other key senior enlisted leaders to broaden the scope and impact of the summit.

In previous years, command chiefs from Air Force active duty, Reserve and Air National Guard attended an annual Worldwide Command Chief Conference.

More than 360 Air Force senior enlisted leaders are scheduled to attend the week-long gathering. Participants will address current force issues and seek field perspectives. Throughout the week, attendees will discuss issues affecting today's Airmen as well as listen to senior Air Force leaders on topics ranging from Air Force transformation to strategic communications.

The summit will begin with a day of athletic conditioning and physical training July 22. 

"Staying fit is an important part of the Air Force mission and plays a key role in our Airmen's daily lives, whether at home base or deployed," said Chief McKinley. "Our Airman warriors must always maintain high levels of fitness to remain ready for the fight. Our senior enlisted leaders around the Air Force are out there every day enforcing standards and it's vital these key leaders remain at the forefront, setting and exceeding our fitness standards."

Additionally, there will be two events focusing on Air Force Heritage.

The first of the two heritage events scheduled is a convoy gun truck dedication at the Enlisted Heritage Hall. 

"The gun truck symbolizes our Air Force ground combat heritage and ties our history to current war-fighting efforts," said Chief Malcolm McVicar, the Air Force Enlisted Heritage Research Institute director. "The gun truck has been refinished from Operation Iraqi Freedom, but retains scars of war."

The second event is a heritage dinner July 26. The dinner commemorates the Air Force's 60th Anniversary as well as the 40th Anniversary of the office of the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force.

"Airmen of today have a rich heritage," said Chief McKinley, "reaching back to our dawning days in the Army Air Corps, then soaring into the skies as a fledgling Air Force carrying critical Cold War loads during the Berlin Airlift. 

"The Air Force fought combat over North Korea, Vietnam and in the 'Shock and Awe' air campaigns of Desert Storm and operations Enduring (Freedom) and Iraqi Freedom," he said.  "We have participated in humanitarian missions like Operation Provide Promise to Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1992 and the 2004 South East Asian Tsunami Relief. 

"Our enlisted Airmen have been at the forefront of every Air Force endeavor. We will look back and honor our enlisted heritage by celebrating the achievements of the first Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, Paul Wesley Airey, other former CMSAFs and Airmen at this dinner," the chief said.

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