Murray calls people Air Force's greatest resource

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  • By Tech. Sgt. Mona Ferrell
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) --  Readiness and taking care of one another are two of the Air Force’s top priorities, said the Air Force’s top enlisted leader here Dec. 1.

Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray said it all comes down to people being the Air Force’s greatest resource.

“We are absolutely proud of what our Airmen are doing,” said the chief while on a two-week tour of U.S. Air Forces in Europe bases. “They’re doing new missions today that have emerged based on the threat … and they’re doing them remarkably well.”

Part of the reason for this success is that Air Force leaders are continually looking at the readiness of our force, Chief Murray said.

“As we fight this global war on terrorism and continue to develop operations downrange … our Airmen must be prepared,” he said. “Our (job) is to continue to make sure our Airmen are trained, have the right equipment and are organized correctly to complete the mission. That’s something our senior (leaders have) talked about and are evaluating.”

The chief, who recently traveled to Southwest Asia with Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. John P. Jumper and Air Force Secretary Dr. James G. Roche, said working directly alongside our sister services is changing the way we train.

“We saw firsthand Airmen in transportation, civil engineer, security forces and so many other career fields (who) were working as partners with the Army. We have medical personnel working alongside allied forces and the U.S. Army -- and they are all just doing a remarkable job,” said Chief Murray. “We’re taking lessons (from) those deploying now to prepare those people who will go there in the future.”

Taking care of one another is a top priority, Chief Murray said. “One of the things we’ve placed an emphasis on is just how well Airmen need to take care of Airmen.”

Citing high-level concern over recent suicide and accident rates within the Air Force, the chief said, “our Air Staff put out the direction to kind of shut the Air Force down for a day … ensuring that our Airmen know that our No. 1 resource and focus in the Air Force, clearly is, and will always be on, our people.

“What we need to do is ensure we support our Airmen and their families in every way,” the chief said. “To shape the force this year, yet continue with the great capabilities our Airmen have demonstrated … is where we must concentrate our efforts.

“This is a volunteer service,” Chief Murray said. “(My job) is to thank Airmen for that service and to help them look at things objectively. I’ve served for 27 years now, and as I look back on it, with all of its challenges -- ups and downs and all -- it’s been a great way of life.” (Courtesy of U.S. Air Forces in Europe News Service)