Former CMSAFs continue serving airmen

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. A.J. Bosker
  • Air Force Print News
WASHINGTON --  Eight former chief master sergeants of the Air Force met with the man who currently holds the position and other senior leaders during a conference at the Pentagon on April 8 and 9.

Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray said the two days provided many opportunities for the group to discuss issues facing today's Air Force.

"The CMSAF Conference allowed us to get together and discuss issues affecting the enlisted force and to exchange ideas," said Murray, who is the 14th CMSAF.

The conference began in 1983 when CMSAF Sam E. Parish first got all the former CMSAFs together.

"When I first took over the position, I realized that I didn't know exactly what it was that I was supposed to do," said Parish, the eighth CMSAF. "At that time, we didn't always do a good job of preparing people for these types of assignments."

Parish said he told then Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles A. Gabriel that he needed to gather the previous CMSAFs to pick their brains for ideas, guidance and suggestions.

The CMSAFs met and many of the ideas and initiatives they developed have benefited the enlisted force today, Parish said.

Although they traditionally give attendees the opportunity to provide the current CMSAF with ideas and suggestions, the main focus of the conferences is to keep the former CMSAFs abreast of current enlisted and Air Force issues.

"As a group, the former CMSAFs play a unique role in that we continue to support the Air Force by traveling and speaking to airmen at bases and leadership schools throughout the world," said CMSAF James C. Binnicker, the ninth CMSAF.

"It's good to be able to speak from a 2003 perspective rather than the one the CMSAFs had when they were on active duty," he said.

CMSAF Paul W. Airey, the first to hold the top enlisted position in the Air Force, agreed.

"I continue to attend these conferences to stay briefed on various subjects because it's nice to know what you're talking about when young airmen ask you questions," Airey said.

All of the former CMSAFs said they continue to travel not out of any obligation, but a feeling that it is their duty to continue serving the Air Force and its airmen.

"I believe that once you wear that wreath, you never really retire," Parish said. "I enjoy doing what I can for our airmen because I owe them and the Air Force for everything I am."

When talking to airmen around the world, Binnicker tells them he is envious.

"They are in the Air Force that I would have liked to serve in, a very small, very competitive and mission-oriented force," he said. "I'm just so proud of them and the tremendous things they accomplish on a regular basis."

These accomplishments and the airmen themselves also have exceeded Airey's wildest expectations.

"The education of the enlisted force today almost equals that of the officer corps that I served with during World War II," said the former B-24 aerial gunner and veteran of 24 combat missions over Europe. "In fact, the enlisted force, especially our senior noncommissioned officers, are regularly performing duties that historically were done by officers."

Parish also said the Air Force is better today than at any other point in history.

"We have the most educated, dedicated and disciplined enlisted force ever, and I'm confident that they will take the Air Force even farther in the future," he said.

For the current chief, there is a lot of learning that takes place during the conference.

"Many of the issues that we deal with in our enlisted force today are not new ones," Murray said. "The previous chiefs have a lot of wisdom and knowledge, and the conference allowed me to tap into that."

Besides their historical perspective, Murray said that the retired chiefs sincerely care about the Air Force and the airmen who serve today.

"These men continue to serve our enlisted force by staying involved in various ways and by traveling and speaking to our airmen throughout the world," he said.

According to Murray, that legacy is one that he will uphold when he leaves the highest enlisted job.

"It is truly an honor to serve in the CMSAF position," he said. "All of us know that and feel strongly about upholding the responsibilities that come with the office while you're in it and also when you retire."