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8th CMSAF visits JB MDL, shares perspective with Airmen

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Jamie Powell
  • USAF Expeditionary Center Public Affairs
JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. --  Former Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Sam E. Parish visited Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Feb. 4.

As part of a two day tour, Parish met with Airmen from JB MDL during a luncheon at Halverson Hall dining facility and hosted a joint base enlisted call. He also spent time touring the U.S. Air Force Expeditionary Center and was the key note speaker for the USAF EC's Annual Awards Banquet.

During his time at the USAF EC, Parish spoke to students and instructors about changes the Air Force is facing and how Airmen today are asked to do significantly more than what was expected of them in the past.

"The experiences that these young people have from their deployments and with their everyday life, it's unmatched in the history of the Air Force," Parish said. "You have an unbelievable opportunity, and that is to produce the Chiefs of tomorrow who will surpass even those of today."

At the luncheon with JB MDL's 5/6 Council, which was attended by selected staff and technical sergeants as well, Parish spoke of the importance of first line supervisors and the role they can play in shaping Airmen.

"Enlisted Airmen are the heart and lungs of our great Air Force, Parish said. "And without you, I guarantee the mission would never get done."

Parish reiterated that sentiment to the Air Force's enlisted corps at the Annual Awards Banquet Feb. 5, again highlighting how vital young Airmen are to the mission.

"The Air Force mission is to fly fight and win," he said. "But we no longer have enlisted pilots, especially in the cock pit. Nevertheless, how many war planes have ever been launched without an enlisted crew chief or a young two, three or four striper to pull the chalks? Each of you play a tremendous role in the day to day operation of our Air Force and you do it with pride and in a most professional manner."

Parish was born in Marianna, Fla., and joined the U.S. Air Force in December 1954. He graduated with the first Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy class at Gunter Air Force Station, Ala., in 1973 and went on to serve in numerous leadership positions including the U.S. Air Forces in Europe enlisted advisor. In August of 1983, Parish was appointed as the eighth CMSAF and served in that position until his retirement in June of 1986.