Eighth CMSAF visits with Gunfighters

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Benjamin Sutton
  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho --  The eighth Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force visited Mountain Home Air Force Base Airmen and was the keynote speaker at the base's 2011 Annual Awards ceremony, Feb. 3, 2012.

Chief Master Sgt. Sam E. Parish, who served as CMSAF from 1983-1986, spoke about issues facing Airmen such as possible retirement changes, and other hot topic items like resiliency training.

"Remember, this is just talk about changing the retirement system," said Parish. "The first thing that will be done is to appoint a group of people to study all the proposed changes and what the possible effects could be."

For the past few months, possible changes and their eventual effects have been considered by senior military leaders.

"I have faith in our leadership and believe they will not do something that will destroy our military as we know it," Parish said. "The things our country needs will get taken care of."

Many Airmen who have joined in the past five to eight years have made the decision to make a career out of serving in the Air Force.

"My major concern isn't the 17-year-old who wants to join, but the current Airmen," Parish explained. "Just as long as we don't break the promise we made when they volunteered to join and ensure the decision made doesn't become a recruiting and retention problem."

A question about the possibility of a 401K-retirement option was raised to the Chief.

"In my opinion, if the changes made are a 401K style plan, it should be a same percentage across the board as opposed to a set dollar amount," Parish said. "That way a senior airman and a general are paying the same percentage of their salaries."

The retired chief expressed how impressed he was with how the new generation of Airmen is preparing for the future.

"The Airmen who have joined in the last 10 years are the first group I can remember who have ever joined and talk about retirement during their first or second enlistment," Parish said. "They know exactly what they want from the Air Force in their lives and go after it."

One particular Airman was given the chance to accompany Parish around during his visit to the base.

"His vast knowledge has been amazing to witness, especially during his visit to the Airman Leadership School and the First Term Airmen's Center class," said Staff Sgt. Nathan Jackson, 366th Fighter Wing Staff noncommissioned officer in charge of wing knowledge operations. "His experience with the responsibilities of being an outstanding supervisor, the importance of being a wingman and basically always positively contributing to improve your personal resiliency, whether on or off duty, has been fantastic to see."

Taking care of Airmen is a personal mission for Parish.

"The resiliency training is very important because of the multiple factors which cause the need," Parish stated. "It's not just deployments, because I see many Airmen who volunteer to go back again and again."

Although, he did stress that multiple deployments were stressful for Airmen and their families.

"The effects of not having resiliency training as part of military life have proven to be very damaging on the force," Parish explained. "In my opinion, supervisors need to take a more in-depth role with their Airmen so they feel comfortable coming to them if they have a problem or issue. Supervisors need to remember that the mission is very important, but cannot happen without the people who will perform it."

Parish also emphasized finding things one personally enjoys would improve morale and is a part of being resilient.

"The Air Force allows men and women the opportunity to excel in a variety of ways," Parish said. "The best place in the world to be assigned is where you are today."