COMMENTARY>>Another new chief in our Air Force

By Col. Kirk Lear
314th Airlift Wing vice commander

By the time this article’s printed, I’ll have had the honor of officiating at a chief master sergeant promotion ceremony for a widely respected senior NCO, one that so many of us said was “sure to be a chief” as we worked with him over the last oh-so-many years. Like other Airmen who achieve this coveted rank, he was inspiring to work with - innovative, patient, considerate and clearly wedded to hard work. I was always impressed at how credible and direct he was when he guided us officers and how quick he was to make time for a younger Airman in need of some mentoring.

I’m really looking forward to the event, of course. While it’ll be short and simple, it’s a huge honor to tell his wife and children, “thanks for your support and love that helped him get here, through all the long days and short-notice deployments and family events that he missed while serving our nation. He couldn’t have achieved this day without you.”

I expect I’ll try to recount with humor how he met his wife, stumbled clumsily about trying to win her, and now reminds himself every day how lucky he is that she’s not on to him.

I suppose I’ll remind him - he knows he’ll hear it and not for the first time - that “to him who has been given much, much more will be expected.” He’s up to whatever will be thrown at him next, I’m sure of it - true to the old Chief’s Creed that “Chief Master Sergeants ... do not hesitate to take chances ... and are not ashamed or afraid to stand for the truth when it is unpopular.”

Toward the end, perhaps I’ll lead the applause from his gathered peers, friends, past and present mentors, plus the inevitable group of young Airmen who rightly perceive that this is a very special event, but can’t yet fully appreciate the contribution this man has made to our Air Force and to his fellow Airmen. Another smiling chief will happily unload the “jeep” he’s been carrying for a month or so, and like so many of his predecessors, our new chief will exit stage right into a never-ending maelstrom of personnel decisions, inadequate resources and Airmen with seemingly insurmountable personal problems. He will lead, and lead well, and our Air Force will be better for it.

For all you Airmen with your eyes upon this new chief, you who aspire to “be as honest in small things as in great ones” and “whose ambitions are not confined to your own selfish desires and interests,” know that it’s a long road to the pinnacle of the enlisted corps, but our Air Force needs you there. Our chiefs still set the example on leading our greatest resource - people - and the baton is yours for the taking, if you’re only willing to shoulder the wonderful burden.