Murray launches inaugural edition of Airman handbook

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Chuck Roberts
  • Air Force Print News
LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) --  If Airman Basic Rachel Redel ever forgets who presented her with one of the first two copies of Airman, Air Force Handbook 1, she can find the answer under “Chief Master Sergeants of the Air Force," on Page 15, "Gerald R. Murray.”

If the 23-year-old basic trainee is curious about what her occupational badge will look like when she graduates basic training in a few weeks and later completes 27 weeks of technical training at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., she can check it out on Page 210 “Explosive Ordnance Disposal.”

That was the intent of Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper, who conceived the idea for a pocket-sized book offering new Air Force accessions -- officers, enlisted, civilians -- everything they need to know to pass “Air Force 101.”

General Jumper’s vision came to fruition Jan. 31 when Chief Murray, the Air Force’s top enlisted Airman, dropped in on a classroom of basic trainees to personally present the first two copies to Airman Redel and Airman Basic Thomas Collins Jr.

“You are the first in the Air Force to receive the new Airman handbook,” Chief Murray told the gathering of basic trainees of the 326th Training Squadron in their fourth week of basic training. “I wish we’d had something like this when I started my career. It’s really a foundation of what we do in the Air Force.”

The blue paperback handbook offers “big pictures” and little words to blend together the four pillars of the Air Force: character, honor, personal integrity and patriotism throughout its 360 pages.

Chief Murray encouraged the basic trainees to use the handbook as a means of continually increasing their overall knowledge.

“The more you learn about this great Air Force, the more doors it opens up,” he said.

The handbook encompasses a broad expanse of military information broken into six sections, covering topics such as “Air Force Top 10 Aces,” “Air Force Vocabulary,” “CONOPS” and “Medal of Honor Recipients.” The handbook falls under the Air Force Occupational Measurement Squadron at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas.

Airman Redel said there is one thing she will not need the book for -- to remember the surprise at being picked to receive her copy from Chief Murray. She had known for a few days that he would be making a guest appearance, but she did not find out until 10 minutes before his arrival that she would personally receive an autographed copy from him.

“I feel very honored,” said the Sierra Vista, Ariz., native. “It’s something I’ll never forget and will keep with me the rest of my career.”