Cody visits Ramstein, addresses Airmen's concerns

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Larissa Greatwood
  • 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) --  Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody met with Airmen and addressed their concerns regarding the future of the Air Force during an all call here June 15.

Airmen had the opportunity to spend the entirety of the all call asking questions about issues ranging from entitlements and reducing the force to enlisted professional military education.

An Airman asked Cody what his thoughts are on the new NCO academy format. All future NCOA courses will be a combination of distance and in-residence learning as opposed to in-residence only, as done before.

"We're not going to a completely distance learning environment," Cody said. "What we're really doing is updating and evolving the way we educate the force. There's a proven methodology that most education, if not the vast majority, has adopted blended-learning. There isn't a lot to be gained in an in-residence domain with an instructor standing at a podium. Over a five-year period, every Airman will have the opportunity to go to an in-residence experience where instead of having an instructor sitting at a podium, there will be an instructor guiding facilitated discussions. It raises the bar significantly."

When asked what advice he would give Airmen who want to achieve the highest level of the enlisted tier, Cody emphasized the importance of taking things one day at a time.

"Life is complicated aside from what we do for air power," Cody said. "So don't complicate this. Just do your best every day. You're not going to be the best every day but if you do your best, that's all anyone can ask. That's the best advice I can give. If you start thinking about being a (chief master sergeant) today, you're going to miss everything along the way. Your goal might be to become a chief, just don't miss what's right in front of you."

Cody concluded the all call by thanking Airmen for their service and hard work.

"We can't thank you enough for what you do every day, how hard you work and how well you execute the Air Force mission," he said. "What you do globally is not lost on anybody in our Air Force. I ask you also extend that gratitude to your families whether they're here or not. I don't believe we could do this without the support and love of our families."