CMSAF visits Lakenheath

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Vanessa Young
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England (USAFENS) --  As threats against the United States evolve, Airmen can expect the Air Force to evolve as well. 

During his visit to Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray talked about the AF evolution and the initiatives leadership is taking to modernize the Air Force and its Airmen. 

“We’ve changed in the past, and we are going to continue to undergo change in the future,” said Chief Murray. “We’ve always been an evolving force.” 

He also spoke about ways the Air Force will adapt, saying, over the next five years, as new technology and new equipment are introduced, Airmen will see a reduction in the personnel structure. Some AF specialty codes will realign, some will decrease and some will grow to meet demands. 

“We have some numbers floating out there that indicate in the next five years we may be 40,000 less Airmen than we are today,” he said. “Toward the summer, I think we’ll be able to give the Air Force a clearer snap shot about where we want to go with that.” 

The chief said AF leadership looked at the deployment aspects of our combat expeditionary requirements and plans to create a balance for those career fields deploying longer and more frequently than other career fields. 

As the Army transforms their structure, the AF will provide more tactical air control, combat weather and air operations support to the Army. Those are areas that will grow, Chief Murray said. 

As the advocate for the enlisted force, Chief Murray said there are many upcoming improvements for Airmen. 

From the fundamentals at basic training, to the command senior enlisted leader course for chief master sergeants, the professional military education programs will continue to evolve and improve. 

“Our PME is the greatest in the world,” the chief said. “But it can be better sequenced for the needs of our Airmen as we shape for the future.” 

Bases across the AF standardized professional development centers over the last few years. AF leadership started with the basics; extending basic training from six and a half weeks to eight and a half weeks. 

In the future, the chief said training will include more information about the enemies we are fighting, and will incorporate lessons learned from Afghanistan, Iraq and other deployments around the world. 

Along with improving PME, AF leadership is also developing education programs to prepare Airmen to work in joint-service environments. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General Peter Pace, recently approved the implementation of the Joint Professional Military Education Program. 

“This [JPMEP] requires all services to evaluate and ensure we have joint education throughout our ranks from the youngest Airman to the most senior NCO,” Chief Murray said. “It has a joint professional military education course for senior NCOs who are assigned to joint commands. And we’ve implemented a senior-level course primarily for chief master sergeants, sergeants major and master chief petty officers who will serve at the most senior levels in a joint task force or joint organization.” 

In addition to joint service training, global deployments with the air and expeditionary force cycle could send Airmen around the world to help fulfill the Air Force mission. 

“It doesn’t matter today if you are serving in the United Kingdom, in the southeastern United States or in Japan because we are a global force,” the chief said. “Serving in the United Kingdom doesn’t mean the mission focus is just on Europe; it’s serving as a global expeditionary force no matter where home station may be. An Airmen serving in the United Kingdom could also serve in Iraq, Afghanistan or Africa.” 

The chief expressed gratitude not only to Airmen serving in the East Anglia military community, but to all servicemembers serving around the world and the families who support them. 

“I have nothing but the greatest appreciation for what our Airmen are doing,” he said. “It is amazing the experience and commitment we continue to have from our Airmen. It’s a busy force, there’s a lot going on in the world, there are a lot of demands that are placed for those of us who are serving in the military, and our people are doing absolutely great.”