Tribal mentors

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Morris
  • 436th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  The Air Force is like a puzzle. Everyone fits into the picture and when one piece isn't there, the mission will suffer.

Recently, I was reminded that while my job and role in the Air Force is important, there is so much more that has to happen to make this machine run.

I was lucky enough to be chosen to be a part of the "Forging Tomorrows Leaders Shadow Program", a new initiative recently started by Chief Master Sgt. James Smith, 436th Airlift Wing command chief.

This program pairs Airmen and young NCO's with chiefs across the base. I was able to shadow Chief Master Sgt. James McDonald, 436th Aerial Port Squadron chief enlisted manager, for a day. Going into the day, I didn't really know what to expect. I wasn't sure if I would take much at all away from the experience. I was absolutely wrong.

The first part of the day was spent making the rounds to all the sections that McDonald is in charge of and talking to everyone we came across. Not only was the Chief there to chat with all of his Airmen and see how everyone was doing , he was also there to get eyes on the buildings and equipment and to ensure that everyone had what they needed to get their mission done. His realm of responsibility is so large that it took us all morning. In that time he was able to listen to concerns his people had and be a problem solver to issues that came up. What I thought was just going to be a walk around of the APS campus turned into a multi-layered visit.

The next part of the day was spent in the office behind the computer. He had a long list of tasks that needed to be completed, from Senior Airmen below-the-zone package reviews to stratifying his Senior Non-Commissioned Officers. In the midst of all the administrative things the Chief was working on, he received a call that one of his NCO's had a personal issue that came up that needed his attention. Chief dropped everything he was working on to assist the NCO in resolving his issue.

Our day didn't end when the duty day was over. Later that evening he held a bullet writing class that some of his squadron members attended. By the end of the class it was late evening and I wondered to myself, "how does he balance it all?" On top of all he has to manage during the day, he still has to balance his personal life and his family.

While I always knew that chiefs were incredibly important to our Air Force, I had no idea the breadth of their responsibilities. Chiefs wear many different hats. They have to be motivators, disciplinarians, subject matter experts and advisors to unit commanders and senior officers. They have to ensure their buildings are clean and suitable for the work that needs to be done in them and that we all have what we need to accomplish our mission

Really, the list of what a Chief Master Sergeant does never ends. What I really didn't expect to take away was how truly important every single Airman is to our mission. Everyone has something to add to the fight. With all the fiscal restraints, that is truer now more than ever. If we fail, our chiefs fail.

Shadowing Chief McDonald gave me a grasp of the big picture. I understand that my job is important and is vital to our mission. If you and your job weren't important, you wouldn't be here.