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Air Force Enlisted's 1st top chief reflects on historic career

  • Published
  • By Carl Bergquist
  • Air University Public Affairs
MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. (AFNEWS) --  The year was 1967, the United States was embroiled in a bloody and unpopular war in Vietnam and the then Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. John McConnell decided the Air Force needed a senior NCO to represent NCO concerns and issues and present them directly to senior Air Force leadership.

The position the general had in mind was chief master sergeant of the Air Force, and the man he chose to serve was Chief Master Sgt. Paul Airey.

It has been 40 years since the decision was made, and the first CMSAF took a few moments to reflect on what the early days on the job were like for him.

"It is scary how fast the time has gone," retired Chief Airey said during a recent visit here. "It is difficult to believe we are on our 15th chief master sergeant of the Air Force."

He said over the past 40 years the job has broadened, and today the CMSAF is involved in "considerably more" than he was.

"In my day, my biggest problem was keeping the job going, as we were up to our necks in Vietnam," the chief said. "Now, the CMSAF goes to Corona. I think this change is for the better because it shows the job has proven itself to be worthwhile for the Air Force."

Chief Airey said he also feels the position is important to the service because it gives every Airman going through basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, a goal to shoot for.

Additionally, enlisted Airmen know there is someone representing them at the Pentagon level.

The chief described the two years and four months he served as CMSAF as, "a very gratifying experience" and said his greatest accomplishment was his assistance in making the Weighted Airman Promotion System a reality.

"I'm proudest of helping the WAPS program get going. One of the biggest problems I faced as CMSAF was promotions," he said. "When I came in, we had a terrible promotions system. It was so bad we had thousands of Airmen writing their congressmen about it. The WAPS program cleared up the problem."

Chief Airey said he was also proud of helping to get the assignment system straightened out.

He said there were Air Force members who had done two or three tours of duty in Vietnam, while others had not deployed to the country at all, and he was able to help correct that problem.

The chief said he is pleased to have had the opportunity to attend a majority of the Senior NCO Academy graduations, and that was what brought him to Maxwell-Gunter AFB.

"I think it's an obligation for former CMSAFs to stay involved in the mentoring and training process in as many ways as possible," Chief Airey said. "I have always believed in the concepts of 'duty, honor and country,' and I have two four-letter words I use often. They are zeal and duty."

The chief said concerning the future, he doesn't see many changes in the job of CMSAF. He said the CMSAF serves at the pleasure of the Air Force Chief of Staff, and future CSAFs will steer the job in the direction they want it to go.

Chief Airey's 27-year Army and Air Force military career began in the Army Air Corps as an aerial gunner on a B-24 Liberator bomber during World War II.

His last mission didn't go well. His aircraft was shot down, and he became a prisoner of war in Germany.

Following the war, the Army Air Corps became the Air Force, and he served as a first sergeant for much of his active duty career. After serving more than two years as CMSAF, he retired in August 1970.

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