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Airmen from all around world join at Air Force Sergeant Association Conference

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Nicholas Pilch
  • 437th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  The Air Force Sergeants Association in Orlando, Fla., met to discuss issues Airmen are facing in the Air Force for a week starting Aug. 19.

"Air Force professional organizations are important to Air Force people and the mission," said Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley. "These organizations enhance the professional development of our Airmen and provide visibility for our air, space and cyberspace missions at a grass roots-level around the nation."

AFSA is a group of Airmen who are active in the Air Force and Airmen who have been in the service, including retirees and veterans. These Airmen go to Capitol Hill and fight for our rights in the Air Force to improved quality of life and economic fairness that will support the well being of Air Force enlisted Airmen and their families.

"This conference is an excellent opportunity for today's Airmen to meet with our knowledgeable and experienced veteran Airmen to discuss topics and issues important to the Airmen, their families and the mission," said Chief McKinley.

During this week, the first sergeants also came together for their 13th annual worldwide first sergeants conference.

"The first sergeants conference enhances cross-communication to these senior enlisted leaders who are key to the morale, welfare and leadership of our Airmen," said Chief McKinley. "Subject matter experts brief total force first sergeants on upcoming changes in the Air Force, leadership challenges, quality-of-life, health, morale and welfare matters."

Throughout the week, the first sergeants and Airmen met daily to be updated on different programs such as enlisted professional military education, Air Force Aid, Air Force Enlisted Village, the Airmen and Family Readiness Center and professional development.

MAJCOM command chief master sergeants also took part in the conference activities all week by being in discussions and sitting on a board of chiefs to determine awards for different Airmen.

"By bringing our MAJCOM command chief master sergeants and other senior enlisted leaders together to participate in discussions and hear topics from briefers across the Air Force spectrum, we better enabled our senior enlisted leaders to address top Air Force issues from a timely and relevant perspective," said Chief McKinley.

Senior Master Sgt. Scott Delveau, Air Combat Command MAJCOM representative, said every Airman that was here walked away with different perspectives learning from all the briefers and leadership.

Airmen will take what they learned back to their units and spread the word of the AFSA.
"Our veteran AFSA members are still serving," said Chief McKinley. "They support and actively advocate our on-going efforts to fight the global war on terror while procuring state-of-the-art weapons systems and taking care of Airmen and their families ... once an Airman, always and Airman!"