AMC command chief plants seed of expectations in Airmen

Published Oct. 13, 2011
By Airman Ryan Throneberry
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Chief Master Sgt. Andy Kaiser, Air Mobility Command's newly-appointed command chief, shared his expectations and hopes for the Airmen here, while outlining what is to come in the future.

Kaiser, from AMC's headquarters at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., visited Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst as well as Dover AFB, Del., and Joint Base Andrews, Md., from Sept. 25 through Oct. 1 as part of his immersion tour of AMC.

Going to Joint Base MDL was Kaiser's first visit to the joint base, but not the first time he has influenced Airmen here.

Kaiser served as the 621st Contingency Response Wing command chief from 2006 through 2008 prior to the joint base merger.

"I consider this base my stomping ground since I served here as the command chief for the 621st Contingency Response Wing," said Kaiser during an enlisted assembly here. "I was not here during the base's transition into a tri-service environment, but I feel the joint environment is a fantastic experience for the Airmen. The more we can expose our Airmen to our sister services, their standards, and their cultures, the more well-rounded Airmen we will be."

Kaiser said deployed environments all over the world are primarily joint service, so the Airmen here have a special opportunity to expand their joint lexicon.

While learning all we can in this joint base environment, Airmen must continue to live by the Air Force core values. "Be the absolute epitome of our core values, and a successful career will follow" said Kaiser.

He continued by advising Airmen on base to exceed expectations, keep a humble spirit and to avoid a self-serving nature.

He explained how we need to set the bar of expectations high for our Airmen, and then provide them with the resources (training, equipment, etc), encouragement, and if needed, tough love. If we do this, we will be amazed by what these high-caliber, professional Airmen will do. Exceptional Airmen are in demand more than ever.

Complacency, however, is the enemy of excellence. Kaiser said some Airmen can tend to have a mindset that says, "OK, I'm qualified in my duty position now, so I can just rest on my laurels." That is not good, emphasized the chief, and we need to avoid that mindset at all costs. We need to continue to be stretched and challenged, as well as commended when we exceed expectations, for that is how we grow. Never quite be satisfied with the quality and quantity of your performance. Recognize excellence in others, and the mission is enhanced. All the while, keep a humble heart, said Kaiser.

"I want Andy Kaiser, 'version 2012,' to be a better husband, dad, grandpa, and a more effective Airman than the 2011 version," said Kaiser.

Kaiser said to have a self-serving nature is anathema to mission success and team cohesion. We also have to be compassionately candid with those we lead and with each other on a day-to-day basis. While not "cutting a person off at the knees", we need to show the Airmen we lead where they are missing the mark, and show them how to improve. Also, for those who are already high-caliber Airmen, leaders need to help them reach even high levels of performance and conduct. Even professional athletes have personal trainers, coaches, and mentors that all focus on improving their already strong performance levels. Kaiser thinks candor is the key. This piece of advice applies especially to young noncommissioned officers finding themselves in a new leadership role.

"Airmen need to have a 'no-kidding' care and concern for the Airmen under their charge," said Kaiser. "I believe leadership boils down to having a strong mission focus, and a genuine love for your people."

Because of our ongoing high-ops tempo and today's demands on our Airmen, we are striving to increase the level of resiliency in our Airmen and families.

That is why Comprehensive Airmen Fitness is so critical, he said. The four pillars of CAF -- mental fitness, physical fitness, spiritual fitness and social fitness -- enable Airmen to handle the challenges of an Air Force career.

"It's not a question of "If life applies strong pressure", it is a question of "when". The greater the resiliency to these unexpected challenges, the more effective we will be supporting the mission, and greater joy we will experience in life, says Kaiser.

Quoting AMC's commander, Gen. Raymond E. Johns Jr., Chief Kaiser said, "AMC is busier than we've ever been. Our missions of 'delivering hope, fueling the fight, and saving lives' will continue in 2012, perhaps in even greater ways as we continue to support our fellow Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines in Afghanistan, Iraq, and around the globe. AMC answers the call so that others may prevail."

Kaiser emphasized the tremendous role U.S. service members play in keeping America free. Less than 1 percent of Americans today wear a military uniform -- including active duty, Guard, and Reserve forces -- and yet they literally make all the difference in the world.

"We have much to be proud of when you consider our contribution, so if you ever wonder if you really make a difference in this world, you absolutely do," said Kaiser. "Life after a successful military career can tend to be anti-climatic, because virtually no other opportunity allows us to have such a significant impact in this world".

The next generation air refueler, the KC-46A, will begin operations in the next few years. It will eventually replace the aging KC-135 Stratotankers with more refueling capacity and enhanced capabilities for cargo and aeromedical evacuation. There also has been a lot of buzz regarding the new version of the Airman Battle Uniform. Kaiser said Airmen should expect the new lightweight ABU's to be available as early as next summer, if not sooner.

As the Airmen of AMC look toward the future, so does AMC's newest command chief. "The Airmen of this global command do amazing things every day that make your eyes water. Debbie and I are blessed to be a part of this incredible team of Airmen and families, and we serve all of them."

Kaiser finished by conveying his utmost gratitude toward the Airmen and families at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

"Debbie and I are very thankful for the hardworking Airmen and families here at JB MDL," said Kaiser. "We can't thank you enough!"