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Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force tours Expeditionary Center

  • Published
  • By Chief Master Sgt. Paula Paige
  • U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center Public Affairs
FORT DIX, N.J. --  "Can I scream?" asks Technical Sgt. Angenette Caballero, her bright smile negating any of the frenzy her question implies.

Sergeant Caballero is 29 days into her new job as executive assistant to the command chief of the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center, and she is organizing her first big event: The Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, Rodney J. McKinley, is visiting the Airmen of the McGuire Air Force Base-Fort Dix area.

Lighthearted impulses to scream aside, for Caballero and the staff of more than 300 people who comprise the Expeditionary Center, the chief's visit to the region Feb. 9-10 was an opportunity to showcase their mission and communicate with the ranking enlisted leader in the Air Force. Initially invited by the center, the chief's itinerary was expanded to include to its mission partners on McGuire, the 305th Air Mobility Wing and the 621st Contingency Response Wing.

Appointed by the Air Force Chief of Staff, Chief McKinley is the 15th Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force. He serves as the personal adviser to the Chief of Staff and the Secretary of the Air Force on all issues regarding the welfare, readiness, morale, and proper use and progress of the enlisted force and their families.

"A lot of his decisions affect us," said Sergeant Caballero. "He is our liaison. What he'll learn from us, he'll take to the Pentagon. I'm looking forward to the two-way communication, not just to hear his voice, but for him to hear ours." 

Full of energy, opinions and humor, Chief McKinley arrived at the center Feb. 10. A mission briefing with senior leaders was followed by a fast-paced tour of the expansive campus and its schools. Later, a trek into the muddied South Jersey pinelands revealed clusters of students learning everything from combat first aid to how to shoot an M-16.

"Who here smokes?" he asked a group of students who had just finished practicing their weapons skills. When two Airmen slowly raised their hands, he commanded, "Quit!"

Then he softened it with a question. "You gonna quit? I say that, because I care about you."

President Barack Obama also cares about Airmen, the chief said later in another setting. Military families are one of his concerns, he said, sharing details of a recent meeting with the new commander in chief.

"A week ago, I was called back from TDY to meet with President Obama, the vice president, the Secretary of Defense, and the National Security Adviser," Chief McKinley said. "We discussed concerns--the added stress of reshaping the Air Force, the economy, the big need for improvements in education, the increase in suicide rates in the military. What a tremendous message this meeting sent to the enlisted branches of all military services," the chief said. "President Obama said he'd like to meet with us (the top enlisted leaders of all services) on a regular basis."

From meeting with senior leaders, addressing key issues at an enlisted call or observing Airmen honing combat skills, Chief McKinley said he was impressed by the men and women of the Expeditionary Center.

"There's a lot of job satisfaction here," he said. "The people are mission-focused and productive. It's refreshing to see that. Even though you see slides and hear stories, you can't get a real taste of a place without 'boots on the ground' and meeting Airmen. I leave the Expeditionary Center totally educated and impressed with the leadership at all levels and the quality of instruction that our Airmen are getting."

A course instructor at the center, Master Sgt. John Brooks said, "It was important to share our mission with the chief. I was impressed. I can rest assured that we have good sponsorship and a good enlisted advocate for Air Force enlisted members."

Others added their voices to the chorus of praise. "I thought he was a really nice down-to-earth guy," said Technical Sgt. James Carson, course director in the Mobility Operations School. "He seemed like he cared, that he wasn't just saying the party line. He seemed like he believed in his mission, that he wasn't just giving it lip service.

"It was very important that we got the chance to share what we do with him," Sergeant Carson continued. "The stuff that we do here is very specific and cutting-edge. I got to tell him about our Mobile Learning program and how we are capitalizing on today's technology to further our current web-based training capabilities."

For Chief Master Sergeant Fitzgerald Hentz, the Expeditionary Center's command chief, the visit was a reunion, of sorts, as the two were stationed together at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, in the late 1990s. The two hadn't spoken since Chief McKinley was named to his new position.

"I first met him when he was my wing command chief," Chief Hentz said. "Having him give input impacted my career. From that exchange to now, he's inspired me. It's exciting having him see me as a brand new master sergeant to now a command chief."

It's the end of the week, and Chief McKinley has returned to his office at the Pentagon; yet his presence lingers.

"To hear him tell you personally where the Air Force is going was awesome," Technical Sergeant Jonathan Tourville, of the Expeditionary Center's 421st Combat Training Squadron, said. "You see pictures of him, you see him on the news, you see him all over, and there he is standing in front of you -- next to you. Not a lot of people get the opportunity to shake hands and talk to the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, let alone have him pin your stripes on. It was hard to believe that the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force and Major General (Kip) Self were tacking new stripes on my sleeves."

Sergeant Tourville was promoted to technical sergeant through the Stripes for Exceptional Performers, or STEP, Program by the center's commander, General Self, during an enlisted call, which featured the chief as guest speaker. 

Chief McKinley also impressed senior officers. "(Chief McKinley) hit the ball out of the park," General Self said of the chief's visit. "He inspired me and the men and women of the center. What an incredible gentleman. He fits hand in glove with (Air Force Chief of Staff) Gen. (Norton) Schwartz. As a team, their vision is clear. The roadmap is certainly focused on the future, and the Expeditionary Center Eagles are 'all in.'"

As for executive assistant Sergeant Caballero, her next big event is waiting in the wings; and even if tempted to scream, it will likely be tempered by a brilliant smile.