CMSAF #8 visits Dyess, marveled by junior enlisted force

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kedesha Pennant
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  "No matter what you do, be the best you can possibly be." This was the best advice retired Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Sam Parish received during  his 31-year Air Force career.

The eighth chief master sergeant of the Air Force visited Dyess Feb. 12-13. During his stay, Parish served as the guest speaker for the Airman Leadership School graduation, the 2015 Team Dyess Annual Awards banquet and an enlisted all-call.

Parish offered advice and words of encouragement to Airmen he encountered throughout his tour of the base, especially to the junior enlisted force. He noted how much he was impressed with three particular Airmen, from the 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron, who briefed him on the B-1B Lancer's Link 16 system.

"Those young Airmen were unbelievable to me because of the fact that they can get up in front of a room and speak confidently," Parish said. "Trust was being placed on them, and they were able to deliver. They may have had doubts about what they were doing, but they didn't let it stand in their way."

The retired chief stressed how every job in the Air Force is essential to the mission and the importance of first-line supervisors and their supervision being a critical link to growing young Airmen.

"There is no job in the entire Air Force that is not important to an individual or the mission at any given time, and it should always be treated that way," Parish said. "I encourage supervisors to make sure they know the importance of what they're doing. Today it may not seem important, but tomorrow it may be vital."

He also told of his own experiences as a young Airman in the mid-1950s as a ground weather operator.

"I remember when I took a test, which was similar to skills knowledge training and was asked for feedback on how effective the test was set up," Parish said. "This was the introduction of someone asking my opinion, and I was still an airman basic."

Parish worked for Capt. Eugene Blanton, who he said had the greatest influence on his Air Force career and personal life. He worked for him during his first four years in the Air Force and never lost contact after that.

"Capt. Blanton encouraged me to go outside of my lane," Parish said. "He encouraged me to do things I felt I couldn't accomplish. From then on, I was always challenged and never afraid to tackle anything."

The advice Parish offered to young Airmen was to keep a positive attitude and smile. It's a simple gesture that he believes goes a long way.

"A positive attitude is the greatest aspect you can reflect to society," Parish said. "If you reflect that you are happy and satisfied in life, then it becomes absolutely contagious. If you go around with a frown on your face, then you're going to create problems for everyone around you."

During the enlisted call, Parish took pride in witnessing the evolution of responsibilities young Airmen have now since he was the CMSAF in the mid-1980s.

"We're getting the best caliber of young people in the history of our Air Force," Parish said. "They're doing jobs that would have never been dreamed of by young enlisted Airmen in my day."

To enlisted Airmen who would like to become the chief master sergeant of the Air Force one day, Parish behooves them to get their priorities in order.

"Make sure you do everything you can to be great at your job and not just to be promoted," Parish said. "You can't have tunnel vision because you will make mistakes along the way. However, if you are the best at what you are doing regardless of what it is, then the Air Force will take care of you."