15th CMSAF takes first look at space

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Kate Rust
  • Air Force Space Command Public Affairs
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AFPN) --  On his first visit here July 28 as the top enlisted servicemember in the Air Force, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley stressed the importance of recognizing, leading and taking care of Airmen.

"I want to focus on our junior enlisted to make sure we take care of them," he said. "We need to put leadership tools into the supervisors' hands and make them the best supervisors they can be.

"I also want Airmen across the Air Force to be proud to be Airmen," Chief McKinley said. "When an Airman goes to basic training, he transforms from being a trainee into being an Airman. That is a very important emotional event. He can finally be called 'Airman.' But at his first duty station we start calling our Airmen 'kids' and start calling them 'troops.' An Airman deserves to be called Airman, regardless if he's an airman basic or a four-star general."

Chief McKinley has had some time to craft his vision of Airman pride; he first joined the Air Force in 1974 as an emergency room medic. After taking a four-and-a-half year break in service, he came back in 1982 as an aircraft mechanic. He went on to serve as a first sergeant for 10 years before becoming a command chief and, in June, the chief master sergeant of the Air Force.

"Airman pride is also about how well Airmen wear the uniform, how physically fit they are, how they act in public, and how well they take care of dorm rooms and facilities," Chief McKinley said. "When we go to other countries to do our job, we need to concentrate on how we perform or how we act when we're in another country, because we're representing our country. Take pride in being an Airman in our United States Air Force."

Chief McKinley acknowledged the key to the challenges ahead for Airmen in a smaller force with a higher operations tempo is good leadership at all levels.

"Because we are downsizing and have a smaller Air Force, the quality of every Airman has to be absolutely unquestioned," he said. "It all stems from leadership. Leaders need to make sure we give proper performance feedback and proper performance ratings to reward the people who are doing the great jobs. For those people who have areas to improve, let them know how to improve. Give them the tools to improve. When we do that, we improve the quality of the Air Force."

While visiting Headquarters Air Force Space Command, Chief McKinley met with the commander, Gen. Kevin P. Chilton, and also sat down with enlisted leadership who took the opportunity to briefly orient the chief to the space mission.

"I think what space brings to the fight is just incredible," the chief said. "Look at Operation Iraqi Freedom. If you take away what space brings to the warfighter, you decrease the capability of our military enormously. We need to educate our Airmen across the Air Force and also the other branches of the service on exactly what space brings to the fight."

Educating Airmen is a strong concern for Chief McKinley, who holds a bachelor's in human resource management and a master's degree in human relations. He made a stop at the Peterson Airman Leadership School to speak with the students and staff.

He said the Air Force is working toward offering a bachelor's degree for enlisted servicemembers: a bachelor of science in military leadership.

"I also want to see enlisted getting their Community College of the Air Force degrees more quickly," he said. "All of that takes supervisory involvement. Track and take care of your Airmen. Make sure they are getting their upgrade training. Talk to them and get to know them. Don't wait until they fail; be involved with them every step of the way."

"We had about 12 students with the chief for about 40 minutes. They were in awe," said Master Sgt. Ron Luvisi, ALS instructor. "What he said about supervisory involvement was just phenomenal."

The chief encouraged the students to be proud of themselves and what they do.

"I have a simple philosophy," Chief McKinley said. "Whatever job the Air Force gives you, do the best job you possibly can.

"Along the way, treat people with dignity and respect," he said. "When you do that and the other things you're responsible for, such as making sure you're physically fit, taking care of your uniform and facilities, completing upgrade training and professional military education -- while doing the best job you can do -- your leadership will take care of you. They'll make sure they put you in the right jobs and get your career progressing along the right path."

Chief McKinley was appointed to the highest NCO position June 30 after having served as the command chief master sergeant for airlift, fighter and expeditionary wings, a numbered air force and finally Pacific Air Forces at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. He serves as personal adviser to the chief of staff and the secretary of the Air Force on all issues regarding the welfare, readiness, morale, and proper utilization and progress of the enlisted force.