Joint Chiefs enlisted adviser speaks at Bolling

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman J.G. Buzanowski
  • Air Force Print News
WASHINGTON (AFPN) --  The first person selected to serve as the senior enlisted adviser to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff spoke recently to some of the Air Force's newest senior NCO about his role and their responsibility as leaders.

Invited to be the guest speaker at a recent senior NCO induction ceremony, Sgt. Maj. William Gainey took to the stage with a message of pride and responsibility at the Bolling Air Force Base club July 21.

One of the sergeant major's taskings has been to go out and visit enlisted servicemembers all over the world. He brought a little bit of that wisdom with him to share with the new senior NCOs.

"I've been an NCO for 30 years," Sergeant Major Gainey said. "It's taken a long time for me to realize what our men and women expect."

Sergeant Major Gainey told the new master sergeants, their friends, co-workers and families, about his recent trip to Scott AFB, Ill., and what he learned about the expectations of enlisted men and women.

"I recently sat down with Airmen from Scott Air Force Base and talked to them for 30 minutes, and then I let them talk to me for 30 minutes."

Sergeant Major Gainey said that he told the Airmen about his R Triple A theory for leaders and their Airmen:

Responsibility -- Respect them enough to give them responsibility.

Authority -- Give them the authority to be responsible and trust them.

Accountable -- Hold him or her accountable as they are going to hold you accountable for your actions.

Assist -- Assist them when they stumble.

"You (master sergeants) are at the top of the mountain and your young Airmen are at the bottom of the valley. Is it because you're better? No. It's because you're more seasoned and more experienced, that's the only reason."

The sergeant major then said that as senior NCOs, they are responsible for helping their Airmen by coaching, mentoring, teaching and training them. That's what junior enlisted people expect from their leaders, and it's the responsibility of those leaders to provide.

Sergeant Major Gainey closed his remarks with an inspirational quote from former President Bill Clinton.

"President Clinton said, ‘There is nothing wrong with America that can't be cured by what is right with America.'"