SAN ANTONIO - More than 150 Airmen took the opportunity to ask questions of eight former chief master sergeants of the Air Force during the 2015 Air Force Sergeants Associations Professional Airmen’s Conference, Aug. 26, 2015.
Former Chief Master Sergeants of the Air Force Bob Gaylor, James McCoy, Sam Parish, David Campanale, Eric Benken, Jim Finch, Gerald Murray and James Roy answered questions on a variety of topics, ranging from adjusting to changes to the enlisted evaluation systems, mentorship and the importance of today’s front-line supervisors.
Roy began the question and answer session by discussing how to adjust to the new changes to enlisted evaluation systems.
“It’s up to you, the front line supervisor who makes it or breaks it,” he said. “With any change like this, you have to learn as much as you can and you need to talk to your airmen about these changes and help them understand.”
Gaylor suggested that not only understanding the changes, but embracing and supporting them is key.
“We live in a world of permanent change, for those receiving the change, I suggest you embrace the change, you look forward to, understand that it will make things better,” said Gaylor. “You’ll get nowhere swimming against the change.”
Parish was quick to answer a member of the audience when asked how to be a mentor and set up their Airmen for success in today’s Air Force.
“Mentorship is making people do something they know they cannot do, but give them the job anyway,” said Parish.
“But make sure they don’t fail while they’re doing it, and when you see them start to slide, cover them, get them a cup a coffee, a cola, take them out to lunch, and then send them right back to finish the job.”
“You do this a few times, and guess what?” continued Parish. “The individual is not afraid tackle anything their supervisor can throw at them. That is setting up for success.”
The overall goal of the panel was getting the former chiefs’ perspective on leadership and Benken shared with the audience a mindset that a leader of Airmen should have.
“Our military is a profession where the people who work for you don’t just spend 40 hours a week with you, they are your responsibility 24/7,” said Benken. “This Air Force truly is a family, a profession that demands that we take care of each other.”