Brig. Gen. Scott Zobrist, 31st Fighter Wing commander, welcomes Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Cody to Aviano Air Base, Italy, Mar. 28, 2013. Cody visited Aviano to answer any and all questions about the recent changes in the military. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Matthew Lotz)
Brig. Gen. Scott Zobrist, 31st Fighter Wing commander, welcomes Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Cody to Aviano Air Base, Italy, Mar. 28, 2013. Cody visited Aviano to answer any and all questions about the recent changes in the military. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Matthew Lotz)
Airman 1st Class Davell James, 31st Force Support Squadron food service specialist, serves Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Cody at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Mar. 29, 2013. Cody sat down to have breakfast with some of Aviano’s Airmen for them to ask questions such as suicide awareness, physical fitness and deployments. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Matthew Lotz)
Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Cody talks on the air to Airman 1st Class Brian Gratz, Detachment 8 Armed Forces Network radio DJ, at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Mar. 29, 2013. Cody spoke about his visit to the 31st Fighter Wing and gave a special shout out to all the military spouses for their dedication and support to their families. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Matthew Lotz)
Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Cody speaks to spouses at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Mar. 29, 2013. Cody spoke about his marriage and how he appreciates the support husbands and wives give to their military spouse each and every day. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Matthew Lotz)
Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Cody poses with the Airman Leadership School instructors during an ALS graduation at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Mar. 28, 2013. Cody was the guest speaker for the graduation class and gave all the new NCOs helpful leadership advice. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Matthew Lotz)
by Senior Airman Jessica Hines
31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
4/1/2013 - AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy -- During his recent visit of U.S. Air Forces in Europe bases, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody spent two days talking with Aviano Airmen, March 28 and 29, getting their viewpoints on some of the Air Force's biggest issues.
In his second month since stepping into the service's highest enlisted position, Cody
has traveled great distances to engage with Airmen and families and help answer questions they may have.
During his visit, the 17th CMSAF answered questions about sequestration, education, family programs and more, focusing specifically on the future of the Air Force.
"With some of the tough decisions that we're going to have to make, it will impact some people more than others, and we'll be respectful about that. I think our Airmen need to be prepared for the fact that things are going to change. They have to," said Cody.
While change may be a driving force, Cody hails Airmen as the "the best trained, the best educated and best equipped in the world," and wants to assure all Airmen and their families that Air Force leaders are listening.
"What we ask our Airmen to do - what we ask their families to do and sacrifice - must be reasonable and sustainable. I will focus on that until the last day I'm in this position," he said.
The job of senior leaders, according to Cody, will be to consider and establish the 'new normal' for the Air Force.
"We will get through this and we will be a better Air Force, just like we're a better Air Force today than we were yesterday," Cody said.
Airmen also addressed concerns over professional military education; fearing computer-based tests will become the norm.
"We are not talking about more CBTs with PME at all. What we're talking about with the transformation of the enlisted PME is how do we use a blended learning approach that is distance learning and in-residence," stated Cody.
According to the chief, the Air Force plans to use "interactive multimedia instruction" to engage Airmen beyond traditional coursework and slide presentations.
"It's very interactive, very high fidelity, and that's what we're working toward," he added.
As a guest speaker for an Aviano Airman Leadership School graduating class, Cody told the future leaders, "part of leadership is continuing to learn, and if you're not learning, then you're not going to be as effective as you need to be into the future.
"It really is a privilege to serve, and it's a greater privilege to lead," he added. "You need to understand that. All leaders need to understand that."
