Two former top Air Force chiefs visit Keesler Airmen

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Chuck Marsh
  • 81st Training Wing Public Affairs
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. (AFNEWS) --  Two retired chief master sergeants of the Air Force addressed a capacity crowd March 2 as guest speakers at the 81st Training Wing's annual awards banquet.
 
The first Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, Paul Airey, and eighth, Sam Parish, took the opportunity earlier in the day to tour several base facilities. They visited the Airman Leadership School, Keesler NCO Academy, technical training and the Top III Association. They also spoke at a wing call.
 
Chief Parish opened the wing call by addressing the importance of all Airmen and their jobs in the overall Air Force mission. He focused on the fact that each is an Airman first, just as members of the sister services are Marines, Soldiers, Sailors and Coast Guardsmen first. 

Both former chiefs were impressed with the people, facilities and the strides taken across Keesler in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. 

"I am really amazed," Chief Airey said. He was a former first sergeant at Keesler. "I remember seeing photos on TV of what happened to Biloxi and Keesler, and I'm amazed at how far you've come in such a short time. It could only have been accomplished by strong leadership and the resiliency of the people stationed here." 

Chief Parish agreed the dedication, professionalism and attitude of those assigned to Keesler in the past 18 months have been the key to recovery efforts. 

"After August 2005, it wasn't fun to be at Keesler," he said, "but we never heard that in the world of public affairs or the newspapers -- it was all a positive attitude. The leadership has really gotten a handle on this and has done a tremendous job and the people have responded -- they always do."
 
The former chiefs, reflecting on their careers, agreed that today's Airmen are better and the Air Force is the best they've seen. They're confident the future force will improve even more. 

"I think the Air Force is in great hands," Chief Parish said. "It's great to be able to see the dedication and the enthusiasm we have in our younger force, and provided they get the proper leadership and supervision, they are going to be better than we could have imagined. It's not the colonels, it's not the generals and it's not the chiefs that make the Air Force go on a day-to-day basis -- it's the two, three and four-stripers that are supervised by technical sergeants and young master sergeants that make our Air Force go on a day-to-day basis." 

Both men also agreed the leadership at Keesler and in the Air Force in general has been outstanding and has fostered the top enlisted force of today. 

"It's not only the brand new buildings and recreation areas," Chief Airey said. "I think I've certainly been impressed by the people I've run into. I've seen leadership from the top level down and it's refreshing for me." 

"To get a crowd together with enthusiasm (at wing call) from the general down the airman basics, it's a good feeling to find people not afraid to ask a question with most senior leadership present," Chief Parish said. "For leadership to take the time to recognize individuals (Stripes for Exceptional Performers promotees and annual awards winners) before their entire peer audience says so much about our Air Force today. It's a family affair and we are a family." 

After a short break, the special guests arrived for the awards banquet in Hangar 4, where their speeches focused on enlisted heritage -- where it came from and where it's going. They agreed having formal recognition for those who stand above and beyond is much needed. 

"We strive in life for recognition," Chief Parish said. "And if you stop and think about it, it's not necessarily the formal recognition of an awards banquet or being named something, it's being recognized by your peers (that means more)." 

"Recognition programs today certain have their place," Chief Airey said. "I believe deserving people should be recognized and I think what we are doing with these various ceremonies is the right way to go." 

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