Airmen learn new perspectives from leadership

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman J.G. Buzanowski
  • Air Force Print News
BOLLING AIR FORCE BASE, D.C. (AFNEWS) --  Air Force leaders invited more than 50 junior and senior NCOs to the nation's capital March 12 to 13 to discuss Air Force triumphs and challenges with senior leaders.

Participants ranged from staff sergeants to chief master sergeants in a variety of career fields and from a variety of locations.

The NCOs listened as senior leaders briefed the future of manpower and personnel, operations, strategic communication, process change and how to better support our Airmen as they prepare for and return from deployments.

The NCOs also had the opportunity to ask questions and give feedback to Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley.

"Our enlisted Airmen are on the front lines in the war on terror and as front line supervisors leading our young Airmen," General Moseley said. "I need them to be focused on our Air Force priorities, and I need to hear what they have to say. 

"This conference was one way for us to give them a strategic look at where we are and where we are going, and for them to give us their view from the field," he said. 

The briefings highlighted the present and future of the Air Force, but the participants also had the opportunity to reflect on the service's proud heritage with a tour of the Air Force Memorial, which was dedicated in October 2006.

The two-day forum gave the attendees a perspective that will help them lead as they return to their home units. "It's all about combat capability for our Air Force, and these NCOs are in the thick of it," said Chief McKinley. "This conference armed them with additional information and motivation. We expect them to return to their home units and share that with other Airmen."

Sharing what was taught at the conference is exactly what Staff Sgt. Saul Soto from the Puerto Rico Air National Guard intends to do.
 
"They told us a lot of important things that I can't wait to get back and tell everyone else in my unit about," the 156th Logistics Readiness Squadron supply manager said. "They need to know about everything the Air Force is doing right now, all the changes that are being made and the benefits they have -- like education opportunities."

The command chief master sergeant from the 91st Space Wing at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., Chief Master Sgt. Mark Brejcha, agreed.

"There are a lot of challenges ahead for us all, but we're going to have an Air Force we can be proud of -- we're not a business; we're going to be better trained and equipped to do the mission," Chief Brejcha said. "We got a first-hand view of what's going on with the Air Force and hearing about [changes] directly from Air Force leaders. We're the best Air Force in the world, and we have to look and act like it." 

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