OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma National Guard welcomed a new top Oklahoma Air National Guard enlisted advisor Monday, Oct. 1. Command Chief Master Sgt. Anthony R. Potts is the new principle adviser to the State’s Adjutant General on all issues affecting approximately 1,600 enlisted personnel in the Oklahoma Air National Guard.
"I am very impressed with Chief Potts," said Maj. Gen. Michael Thompson, adjutant general for Oklahoma. "He has been a traditional Guardsmen his entire career and has excelled in his civilian and military career. I am most impressed with his character and integrity. He brings a wealth of experience and credibility to bear for all of the Oklahoma National Guard."
Prior to his new position, Potts was the chief of the 137th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base in Oklahoma City. He said he is looking forward to the challenge of his newly appointed role.
“The challenge is to make sure I am able to influence [Airmen] the right way,” Potts said. “Hopefully, I can be an ear for the enlisted Airmen so they know they do have a voice and there are people looking at what their issues are. I’m looking forward to getting out there to the 137th [Special Operations Wing] and 138th [Fighter Wing].”
In 1986, Potts, an Oklahoma City native, joined the Oklahoma Air National Guard at the age of 25 out of a desire to serve his country and to pay for college. However, after a short time in the Air Guard, Potts said his desire to serve became bigger than just money for school.
“The simplest advice I’ve got that rang true to me was from Senior Master Sgt. Bill Inman, a Vietnam War veteran I still stay in contact with today,” said Potts. “He told me, ‘All I can do is open the door for you. All you have to do is walk through it.’ It’s real simple, but at the time I joined, it rang real true to me.”
Potts is approaching his 32nd year in the Oklahoma Air National Guard. He said he initially felt that reaching the rank of master sergeant would be his goal. However, when he became a master sergeant, he said he started thinking he could possibly retire as a senior master sergeant.
“As a traditional guardsman, only 0.3 percent of us make chief master sergeant,” Potts said. “I thought that was almost unrealistic, but it didn’t stop me from trying.
“Sometimes I think you have to reach a little higher to get to where you want to be,” Potts continued. “There is a famous quote that says, ‘I don’t have a problem if you aim high and miss. I have a problem if you aim low and hit.’ I was always making sure I was aiming high.”
Potts said he urges young Airmen to find more than one mentor to help guide their military careers, and to always set daily, attainable goals. He said by reaching a little bit and stepping outside of the box, the range of your goals will greatly increase.
“I remember years ago reading Robert Browning, ‘A man’s reach should always exceed his grasp,” Potts said. “Every time you get a chevron, that’s more responsibility. Find a mentor who is willing to help you and ride their coat tails. Get a lot of advice from different people and put the best of all of it together, and I think you will become successful that way.”
Potts admits being the senior enlisted advisor for the Oklahoma Air National Guard is very humbling but he is ready to lead. He attributes previous leaders he has had throughout his military service as role models who have helped shape his military and civilian careers.
“The good lord put you in your path to get you where you are and I had plenty of help; I did not do it by myself,” Potts said. “Hopefully I will be able to help the entire Oklahoma Air National Guard because of this [position].”