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Fifth CMSAF shares his thoughts with today's Airmen

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Stacia Zachary
  • 96th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  A person whose enlistment dates back to the Air Force's early days believes the service has created its own legacy through the performance and achievements of its people and units -- the fundamentals of its success then and now.

Retired Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Robert Gaylor, the fifth to hold the Air Force's highest enlisted rank, spoke to enlisted members here during a Jan. 11-12 visit. Topics ranged from changes in the Air Force since his retirement in 1979, to his motivation for visiting Airmen around the world and what he feels Airmen should be focusing on in the ever-changing world that is the U.S. Air Force.

Chief Gaylor said training and technology are the main changes between the Air Force of his time and the Air Force of today.

"The force of today is much better trained, starting with basic training, specialty training and professional military education," Chief Gaylor said. "When I graduated from basic training and left Lackland (AFB, Texas), I had no clue what I would be doing. A two-striper personnellist met me when I got to my first assignment and decided I would go work for security forces. Today, most of you know what you're doing even before you set foot on Lackland. This helps make you better, more informed Airmen than I was."

It was at Chief Gaylor's first base after completing basic training in 1948 -- Waco Air Force Base, Texas -- where his training was directly impacted by technology.

He said technology will continue to evolve and is why continuing to train is so important to the Air Force's strength and success.

"It takes (technology and training) combined to prepare an Airman for anything," the chief said. "Merging training with technology equals mission accomplishment."

However, reductions in the force and the addition of responsibilities on an already over-whelmed force can create a dire situation for the Airmen of today and tomorrow.

"The main concern I see now with our Air Force is all the reductions," he said. "While the reductions are a fine idea on paper, I am worried about the effects it has on the people left after all the cuts are made. I worry that these reductions will interfere and effect all the progress that has been made. Let me add, though, if anyone can handle this challenging time, it's the Airmen who serve today."

Although the draw-downs continue and more Airmen face situations he never had to, the chief said he believes that this is the best Air Force he has ever seen.

"Some of you are doing things in your first four years that I never did in my 31 years of service," Chief Gaylor said. "You're doing so well and you're making sure everyone is taken care of in the process."

The chief reminds the Airmen that while there are still a lot of services the Air Force can provide to help the service member and his family better cope, they have made leaps and bounds from the care he received when he first enlisted.

"When I got assigned to Korea, I had a wife and three children who I left behind," the chief said. "At that time, the Air Force was still under the impression that if they wanted me to have a family, they would have issued me one. Because of that, my wife handled everything alone."

With the growing and lengthening of deployments the chief says that single Airmen and family programs in place make it easier for the Airman to leave home.

"Let me tell you, the year I was in Korea, no one checked on my family once," added the chief. "Now, it is a rare occasion that the family isn't included in socials or offered help at home. The Air Force has definitely improved its focus. All of this helps make a stronger Airman."

The chief says that becoming involved with the Airmen again has been a highlight in his life since his retirement from his second job.

"I joined the Air Force in 1948 on a three-year enlistment and ended up staying 31 years," the chief said. "I retired in 1979 and went to work with an insurance firm in San Antonio. I retired from that in 1995 and threw my hat back into the Air Force ring.

"So why do I continue to travel all over?" Chief Gaylor asked. "It's because of you. You are my motivation and it's important to me that the Airmen are reminded of their worth and that their sacrifice is appreciated. Don't ever lose sight of why you enlisted. It's something to be proud of and something this nation owes a debt of gratitude for."