Photo By Tech. Sgt. Marizol Ruiz | Air National Guard Command Chief Master Sgt. James W. Hotaling speaks to 156th Airlift...... read more read more
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CAROLINA, Puerto Rico -- "The Profession of Arms is what we do," said the Air National Guard command chief at the 156th Airlift Wing, Puerto Rico Air National Guard on March 7, 2015. "We are minutemen and we wear this uniform for a reason; being in the profession of arms is who we are."
Command Chief Master Sgt. James W. Hotaling delivered his opening statement in a junior enlisted call that focused on the concept of renewing the commitment to the profession of arms, building resilience within the health of the force, and recognizing and embracing the accomplishments of Airman.
"The most powerful weapon in the Air Force is the Airman!" exclaimed Hotaling."Things have been changing in the Air National Guard and we ask that you be an adaptable Airman."
The profession of being disciplined, skilled and educated, while embracing responsibility was highlighted through-out Hotaling's visit. He stressed how being a professional was always on mission, even if the Air Guard was a part time job for the majority of the force.
He brought key points to the table about the health of the force and the importance of how being physically, mentally, and spiritually resilient had to come through self-discipline, because the rules were constantly changing and in order to maintain on top of mission, Airmen had to bounce back and be flexible to change.
Hotaling emphasized how every Airmen counts, no matter what status, whether reserve or active component within the Air Force.
In the senior and junior enlisted calls, he patiently spent his time interacting with Airmen and getting feedback from them. He spoke of the old way of the Air Guard and said it was gone forever because adapting to a new way of thinking was the road to success for every enlisted member.
When sitting down with the Rising Six who are airman basic to technical sergeants and the Top Three Council who are master sergeants to chief master sergeants, he perceived a positive attitude towards the change that was coming.
"The councils are very powerful when coming from an enlisted perspective," said Hotaling. They have their very unique perspectives and their own insights. But here at the wing I can see the councils are very engaged into understanding that we are going towards the one Air Force concept. The value of the Air National Guard is so important now."
"Focus time and engaging with airman one on one is the true value to me as opposed to just going out and seeing an airplane," said Hotaling." Even though we were here two days, we were able to see the holistic Puertorican Air National Guard."
"The Puerto Rico Airmen are motivated here because the majority of the Airmen are deployed," said Hoatling. "Having faith in Airman, that's the key," he emphasized. "I believe the Puerto Rico Air Guard has adaptable Airmen and it doesn't matter what mission they get."
"The Air Force and the Department of Defense counts and believes in the PRANG because it constantly deploys a majority of its forces, and it has the confidence in giving them the new mission," said Hotaling. "They know Puerto Rico is fit to fight."
Towards the end of his visit, Hotaling described how the reduction of the active duty Air Force is incrementing the value of the Air Guard, and how the PRANG will be in a unique position when changing to the new mission of converting from the C-130 Hercules aircraft to the RC-26 aircraft.
The airframe conversion will bring a new operational mission to the 156th Airlift Wing that will come with an Air Force Specialty Code modification in the manning of the flight engineers, loadmasters, maintainers, and intelligence field. In essence, the new mission will be challenging and along with that, the PRANG will have to be adaptable and resilient in taking on the new task.
The Puerto Rico Air National Guard has the cultural diversity of a bilingual force that is capable of taking on a new mission, where renewing the commitment to the profession of arms will set the platform for a vigilant force ready to respond, and ready to lead the way when adapting to change. It will be a first of a kind.
| Date Taken: | 03.07.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 03.19.2015 15:21 |
| Story ID: | 157530 |
| Location: | CAROLINA, PR |
| Web Views: | 93 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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