Top chief discusses Air Force issues

  • Published
  • By 2nd. Lt. Candice Adams
  • Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. (AFPN) --  Force shaping, housing plans, the proposed uniform and fitness proved hot topics for the Air Force's top enlisted leader as he talked with Airmen during a visit here.

Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray said the retention rate for first-term Airmen is the highest the Air Force has seen in the last six years. At the same time, there are more Airmen than funding available.

Force shaping, he said, will maintain our quality force by keeping the highest caliber Airmen in specific career fields.

"If you request to remain in a career field and are disapproved, then you have the option to retrain into another career field that needs people," Chief Murray said. "Here you come to a fork in the road and say, 'Do I want to stay in the service or not? Do I serve today for my nation because it is the right thing to do or for another reason?'

"If you believe in serving this nation and in the mission we do, then you have to be out there doing what our Air Force needs," he said.

In explaining the situation, Chief Murray said someone must go to Korea and not everyone can serve in Hawaii.

"Serving is serving," Chief Murray said. "There are about 100 chiefs (who) will have to move to other career fields due to an imbalance in that rank. They are leaders, and we'll ask them to lead through this for the greater good of the force."

Chief Murray said one topic concerning many leaders is improving the quality of life for Airmen. One way to do this is with pay increases and added benefits.

An Air Force chief master sergeant makes about $800 more a month today than four years ago. The 2000 pay scale shows that senior airman through chief master sergeant make 70 percent of what their civilian counterparts do, based on education and experience. Airman basic through airman first class are equal to the civilians.

"That means that today there is not a job in America a young Airman could find that gives the pay and benefits in the civilian world that can equal the United States military," Chief Murray said. "There is hardly a job in America that gives you 30 days leave a year or complete-medical care."

He also spoke on housing plans. New quads for single Airmen will replace the standard dormitories.

Four people will walk in one door into a central kitchen and living room opening onto four separate bedrooms with walk-in closets and individual bathrooms. Each unit will have a washer and dryer.

"Take pride in where you live," he said. "If you don't like it speak up about it.

"For those who are married and living off base, next year you are going to have an increase [in basic allowance for housing],” Chief Murray said. “For the first time in history BAH will be funded at 100 percent."

When questioned about the proposed uniform, Chief Murray gave direct answers.

"Producing a uniform that will last longer and cost less in the long run because of low maintenance costs will benefit you," he said. "I wear (the Air Force) uniform very proudly now because it is our uniform, and I will wear whatever uniform the Air Force adopts proudly."

Leaders also believe Airmen's overall health is important to force success and are making it a top priority, Chief Murray said. He added overall health encompasses physical, emotional and mental.

"We used to concentrate on measuring fitness rather than changing and improving our overall fitness. We need to shift the mindset to change the culture," Chief Murray said. "That is why it is important that it is led by (the leaders) -- because we lead by example."

The chief stressed Airmen need to take care of one another and be responsible for their own choices.

"How is your neighbor across the hall? Is she down in the dumps? Go over and talk to her. We cannot afford to lose quality Airmen due to suicide," Chief Murray said. "It [also] burns my soul to see the loss of an Airman because someone goes out and drinks and drives. There is no tolerance for that in our quality force."

It is a different Air Force today than when he joined in 1977, with deployments knocking at the door for Airmen today, the chief said.

"High-deployment rates are a fact of today's force. You are the most motivated group of Airmen I have ever seen," he said. "You are the most experienced I have ever seen. That motivation and experience make our force high quality." (Courtesy of Air Force Materiel Command News Service)