Fifth CMSAF visits Aviano

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Kim Schaerdel
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  Fifth Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Robert D. Gaylor visited Aviano June 30 through Aug. 3. 

During his visit, he visited with Aviano Airmen throughout the base, led a special session during the Aviano Senior NCO Professional Development Seminar and was the honored guest speaker of the SNCO induction ceremony. 

"Many people ask me why I still travel around visiting bases and giving talks," Chief Gaylor said. "I do it for every interaction I get to have with Airmen and taking a moment to get to know them." 

The first time Chief Gaylor came to Aviano was in 1973, the same year he was selected as the United States Air Forces in Europe senior enlisted adviser. Since then, he said he had been back around 15 times, each time bringing new developments and changes.
"Aviano is a great tactical location with a great mission," he said. "Not to mention, it looks like a new base (with all the construction)." 

Throughout the chief's five-day visit, he met with Airmen from units across the base. From the First Term Airmen recognition ceremony to touring the Airmen Leadership School, the former CMSAF's presence was felt in Aviano. 

One of the highlights of CMSAF Gaylor's visit was the "Leadership in Action" discussion he led during the SNCO Professional Development Seminar. He entertained the 48 master sergeant-selects with a speech he developed while working at USAA and has since shared with audiences across the United States. 

An overall theme of the discussion was finding a balance between using "high technology" and "high touch," or human interaction, in day-to-day life. Ultimately, technology is here to stay and simplifies a lot life's complexities, but as Chief Gaylor stressed, he has never seen a computer that hugs people. To be a leader, you have to find the human factors that motivate the people you lead, he said. 

"It's the human factor that makes life exciting," Chief Gaylor said. "Some examples of this are personalized leadership and giving people opportunities to take pride in their work and personal growth. People want to do well at their job; you have to help them do that." 

During the former CMSAF's visit, he also had the opportunity to dine with a mixture of younger Airmen and company grade officers, during a breakfast at La Dolce Vita here.
Favoring informal gathering like this, Chief Gaylor opened the floor for questions. To get the ball rolling, he asked the first question to himself of how can you become a chief master sergeant? 

"Set realistic short and long-term goals," he said. "If you hope to obtain those goals, you have to make the proper investments that will help you get there. Beyond that, and to put it into frank terms, you have to be here to work every day. When everything is said and done, you have to do your job well and get it done." 

The Chief's visit ended with him attending the SNCO induction ceremony as the guest speaker. This ceremony ended the SNOC professional development seminar and helped welcome Aviano's up and coming master sergeants.