News>ACC chiefs depart Offutt with broad perspective
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U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Richard Parsons, command chief master sergeant of Air Combat Command, addresses the room during the opener for ACC Chief Orientation held at the Dougherty conference center on Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Jan. 28. Parsons provides guidance to the assigned 36 command chief master sergeants and acts as functional manager for ACC's 350 first sergeants. (U.S. Air Force photo by Charles Haymond/Released)
Retired U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. James M. McCoy, the sixth Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force 1979 – 1981, greets Air Combat Command’s newest Chief Master Sergeants at a mixer held at the Patriot Club Jan. 27 at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. The new chiefs will spend a week at Offutt gaining further insight as to what the rank entails and what is to be expected of them in this milestone. (U.S. Air Force photo by Josh Plueger/Released)
U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Rick Parsons, command chief master sergeant of Air Combat Command, provides opening remarks at the ACC Chief Master Sergeant Orientation mixer hosted by the 55th Wing’s Patriot Club at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Jan. 27. Chief selects from across ACC came to Offutt to take part in a week long orientation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Josh Plueger/Released)
U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. William Thomaston, Jr., 55th Wing command chief, addresses the crowd during the Air Force Combat Command Chief’s Orientation held at the Dougherty conference center on Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Jan. 29. Thomaston is the principal enlisted advisor to the 55th Wing commander and is responsible for assessing factors influencing the mission readiness, utilization, morale and quality of life of more than 5,100 enlisted Airmen. (U.S. Air Force photo by Charles Haymond/Released)
U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sergeants Arlandio Green (left) and Karen Harris (right) both from Joint Base Langley-Eustis socialize at the annual Air Combat Command Chief Master Sergeant’s mixer hosted at the Patriot Club Jan. 27 at Offutt Air Force Base, Neb. Chief selects from across the command met at Offutt to begin a weeklong series of training and lectures to better prepare them for the highest enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Josh Plueger/Released)
U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Richard Parsons, command chief master sergeant of Air Combat Command, delivers a welcome speech during the opener for the ACC Chief’s Orientation held at the Dougherty conference center on Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Jan. 28. Parsons is the enlisted advisor to the commander and staff for the enlisted force stationed at 27 wings, 17 bases and at more than 200 operating locations around the world. (U.S. Air Force photo by Charles Haymond/Released)
U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. William Thomaston, Jr., 55th Wing command chief, speaks to fellow chiefs and chief selects during the Air Combat Command Chief’s Orientation held at the Dougherty conference center on Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Jan. 29. The four day orientation is created to aid ACC’s new chief master sergeants with essential tools to make the transition to the highest enlisted rank in the Air Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Charles Haymond/Released)
U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. William Thomaston, Jr., 55th Wing command chief, speaks to the crowd during the Air Combat Command Chief’s Orientation held at the Dougherty conference center on Offutt Air Force Base, Neb., Jan. 29. Approximately 120 new chief master sergeants and chief master sergeant selects from various bases participated in this orientation. (U.S. Air Force photo by Charles Haymond/Released)
by Senior Airman Peter R.O. Danielson
55th Wing Public Affairs
2/21/2013 - OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- Air Combat Command's 120 newest chief master sergeants and chief master sergeant selects are settling back into their squadrons and wings throughout the globe with lessons they learned at the 2013 ACC Chief's Executive Course, held at the Dougherty Conference Center here Jan. 27-31.
The course was designed to introduce the chiefs to the major command's programs, policies and procedures. It also gave these new senior leaders management guidance as they take new positions and responsibility at their home units.
"We should never forget that training and developing leaders is critical to mission success," said Chief Master Sgt. Richard Parsons, ACC command chief master sergeant. "This is not a conference. This is not an orientation. This is professional military education. It's our opportunity to move our senior enlisted leaders into the strategic mindset and role that we ask them to step into. It's critical that we continue to do this because leadership is the ultimate equalizer for our Air Force."
The command chief came to the four-day orientation to oversee the chiefs as they received the tools needed to succeed in the Air Force's highest enlisted rank. They were also warned about the trials and expectations they would soon face with their newly earned rank.
"This promotion is not about a pay increase," Parsons said. "Stripes do not represent a pay raise. They represent a level of responsibility. They are commensurate with the responsibility the Air Force has entrusted in you as you take care of the sons and daughters of our nation as they fight and die for our freedom."
Other guest speakers for the event included Chief Master Sgt. (ret) James McCoy, the 6th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force; Command Sgt. Maj. Patrick Alston, U.S. Strategic Command senior enlisted leader; and Chief Master Sgt. William Thomaston, 55th Wing command chief. Their message of active and accountable leadership shone in statements given by new chiefs.
"I am no longer 'invisible', meaning that wherever I go, I am a senior enlisted leader and I can no longer take a passive role in my unit," said Senior Master Sgt. Philip Kyger, manager of Air Force Weather Agency's A6 Warfighter Systems Integration Division and attendee of the Chief's Executive Course. "I am expected to mentor and guide my Airmen and also the officers in my unit. Once you're a chief, you can no longer have the attitude that we can sit back and just do our jobs and disappear in the background. We must aggressively take on new leadership roles and new challenges that will push us to improve our units and achieve mission success while taking care of our Airmen."
Lessons were framed to ensure the attendees would absorb an important focus of the event: the future of the Air Force and the people who will keep the planes flying.
"The [lesson] that hit home with me was to take care of our Airmen," said Chief Master Sgt. Darrell Amoruso, 55th Maintenance Squadron superintendent. "They are our greatest resource, and one day, they will replace me. I need to mentor and develop them to be at their best to ensure that our Air Force remains the greatest air force in the world."
As the chiefs left Offutt, Parsons thanked the 55th Wing, U.S. Strategic Command and the Air Force Weather agency for hosting this event.
"You have a very diverse set of missions that make up Team Offutt, combined with the hospitality of a great protocol staff and community downtown that make this a great place to execute this course," he said.
