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Enlisted leaders prepare for increased responsibility at Chiefs Orientation

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Chuck Roberts
  • U.S. Air Forces in Europe Public Affairs
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (USAFENS) --  Forty seven chiefs and chief-selectees left Ramstein recently with a firmer grasp of their new position in U.S. Air Forces in Europe after attending the Chiefs Orientation course.

"It was an eye opener on the awesome responsibility being a 'Chief' encompasses," said Senior Master Sgt. Rodolfo Gonzales, deputy fire chief for 435th Civil Engineer Squadron here at Ramstein. "We all have heard the term "military image," but after this course, as chiefs, we are challenged to raise the bar. Our Core Values are taken to the next level. I felt honored to be around fellow chiefs and chief selects. It was awesome course and opportunity."

During the four-day course, attendees from bases throughout Europe enhanced their knowledge of key issues such as enlisted professional military education, Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century, and a chance to hear senior leadership perspectives from general officers.

Another key senior leader was retired Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Sam E. Parish, the eighth CMSAF and a former USAFE senior enlisted advisor always ready to share his philosophy of taking care of Airmen.

"He truly is one of our pioneers in the enlisted force," said Sergeant Gonzales. "Chief Parish hit home when he reminded us of how we perceived chiefs when we first joined the Air Force. I perceived a chief as the 'wise one with all the answers.' The chief then said, 'you are the chief now. Several have bled to get you where you are now. It's your turn to get bloody.'"

Fellow future chief Senior Master Sgt. Todd Katz agreed.

"Chief Parish is an inspiration and hearing his philosophy on leadership really let me know about taking care of my people and letting them always know that I am there for them," said Sergeant Katz, fire chief for the 65th Civil Engineer Squadron at Lajes Field, the Azores. "He has led the way for us to be better chiefs and a better Air Force."

Chief Parish is a regular supporter for the Chiefs Orientation because he said the course fills a void in preparing future chiefs to broaden their leadership ability. The course is spearheaded through the efforts of USAFE Command Chief Master Sgt. Gary Coleman.

"We don't have a formal program that gets our chiefs educated and orientated into what it means to be a chief master sergeant," said Chief Parish. "It's all been a mystique through the years and we have ill-prepared our senior NCOs to become chiefs. We're trying to fix that, and we're fixing it with things of this nature."

Chief Parish gives a consistent message about what he believes is the role of senior enlisted leaders - taking care of lower ranking Airmen.

"Your job is not to mix it up with the Airmen," said Chief Parish. "Your job is to fly cover for the senior master sergeants and the master sergeants and the senior NCOs so they make sure that they fly cover for the tech sergeants and staff sergeants that supervise the Airmen that make our Air Force go on a day to day basis."

That is exactly the kind of message attendees are expected to walk away with, said Chief Coleman. Combined with the insight provided by numerous other guest speakers, Chief Coleman said he is confident the command's newest most senior leaders will successfully convert what they learned in the classroom into meaningful action.

"Once again, it's been a tremendous group of talented and dedicated senior enlisted leaders attending the course," said Chief Coleman. "They leave here facing not only the challenge of increased leadership, but of leading our Airmen as we reshape USAFE as part of the effort to modernize and recapitalize our aging Air Force fleet. Their task is great, but I know each and every one of them is ready for the challenge."