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New CMSAF visits Expeditionary Center

  • Published
  • By Chief Master Sgt. Paula A. Paige
  • U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Taking stock of the people and the mission of the Joint Base here, the Air Force's ranking enlisted Airman, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy, included the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center as a stop during his July 28 to 30 tour of the region.

When a capacity crowd gathered in the Expeditionary Center's auditorium for an "All Call" town hall-style gathering, the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force responded to a variety of questions on everything from uniform changes and enlisted performance evaluations to dining hall menus and physical fitness standards. And he left no doubt about his priorities.

"What I'm focused on is taking care of you as Airmen, presenting you to that combatant commander, then taking care of our families. That's how your chief thinks."

The Chief stressed the joint fight and the importance of presenting the best trained and prepared Airmen to the combatant commanders. The recently appointed Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force spent the day leading up to the afternoon "All Call" touring and talking to Airmen across the 34-acre training campus.

Chief Roy said, "I know the chief of staff of the Air Force is very interested in making sure that every single Airman we place in harm's way -- regardless of Air Force Specialty Code, tasking, position, line number -- is adequately and supremely prepared."

Chief Roy, who spent the early part of his career in the civil engineering career field, was appointed the 16th top enlisted leader by General Norton Schwartz, Air Force chief of staff, during a June 30 ceremony at Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C. Prior to his selection, he served as the senior enlisted leader and adviser to the U.S. Pacific Command Combatant Commander and staff, Camp H. M. Smith, Hawaii.

Maj. Gen. Kip Self, Expeditionary Center commander, remarked the Air Force will greatly benefit from the Chief's joint experience and background. The general said Chief Roy challenged the Expeditionary Center to remain relevant to our Airmen in the joint fight and he believes the EC Eagles are up to the challenge. Chief Roy also pointed out the importance of "doing it all together" by exchanging and standardizing best practices across the training enterprise.

The Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force met with Airmen, from all ranks, across the joint base. Additionally he visited with Airmen being trained by Fort Dix Army mission partners. Without exception all were impressed by Chief Roy's candor and interest in trying to figure out how to make it better.

Praise for the chief master sergeant of the Air Force came from all ranks and perhaps Senior Airmen Christopher McShan, of the 421st Combat Training Squadron, summed it up best. 

"He seems genuinely concerned about our ideas and what we bring to the table," Airman McShan said. "He really wanted to see what he could take back to the Pentagon and how he could change things."