An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

New Chiefs gain command perspectives at leadership course

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Stephenie Wade
  • Headquarters Air Mobility Command
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  Chief Master Sergeants from around the world attended this year's Air Mobility Command Chief Leadership Course here Feb. 3-4 and learn what it means to be a top enlisted leader in today's Air Force.

"The purpose of this course is to prepare the new chiefs for strategic-level thinking; how to translate a strategic-level message to tactical level for Airmen to understand; and how do you deal with and develop relationships above the wing level," said Air Mobility Command, Command Chief Master Sgt. Shelina Frey. 

When a senior master sergeant is preparing to become a chief, they truly have to prepare because there's no getting ready once you're wearing the chief rank, said Frey.

"There is an expectation a chief can solve any problem if an Airman stops to talk to them," she said. "So how do you handle that? What is your mindset? If you are the face of senior leadership, then that makes you the face of the Air Force. That means Airmen are watching you; and however you feel about something is how they are going feel about it."

Senior Master Sgt. James Worley, 89th Maintenance Group Superintendent at Joint Base Andrews, said he believes servant leadership is the most important quality anyone could ever learn.

"I lead by example, since life will say much more than words ever could," he said. "A former chief once told me, 'Remember, you are an advisor to the commander, and he or she has the responsibility of command authority. Stay humble, credible, and approachable, both up and down the chain of command.'"

Frey said everyone can have personal feelings. But when you reach the level of chief master sergeant, then you are considered "everyone's chief," and you need to be able to understand what is best for the Air Force.

"Our job is to grow the future," she said. "Now is the time for you to stop training and start setting conditions for training. So now, if Airmen are asking questions, chiefs need to go to the lowest supervision level and say, 'Listen, here are the Airmen's concerns.  Let me help you answer these questions for them, so they will come to you."

The Profession of Arms Center of Excellence curriculum was one portion of the class that taught them how to lead. Many of the attendees said they benefitted and enjoyed this portion the most, because it "re-blued" them.

"This course emphasized what it means to be a part of the bigger picture and what it means to pass on all of our knowledge to the incoming personnel that will fill our shoes when we retire or move on to a different position within our Air Force," said Senior Master Sgt. Christopher Herrera, 733rd Air Mobility Support Squadron, Maintenance Superintendent at Kadena Air Base, Japan. "We have to remember at this stage in our careers that we are no longer in the Air Force, the Air Force is in us." 

Becoming a chief doesn't happen overnight. The chief selects in the course have received information over the years they attribute to their success today.

Senior Master Sgt. Randy Simmons, 22nd Aircraft Maintenance Unit superintendent at Fairchild AFB, Washington said his favorite advice was the T-leadership approach; "HumiliTy, Availability, ApproachabiliTy, VisibiliTy and FlexibiliTy."

"The best tip I learned was that we are not doing more with less, we are doing more with 'the BEST'!" said Senior Master Sgt. Misty Shaffer, 60th Diagnostics and Therapeutics Squadron Superintendent at Travis AFB, California.  "I appreciated this statement, because it really puts in to focus the ability of our Airmen who are doing the work.  We always say we have the best of the four services, but this (course) really emphasizes that!"