So we have evolved and the changes we’ve made are tre-


mendous. I look out at the crowd and I see our Airmen at the bases and it is incredible to see the quality of Airmen that we have today versus back in the day. Now, we had great Airmen back then, great sacrifices. We served in tremendous missions, and we have done well. We were and we still are the most powerful Air Force in the world. But, what our Air Force is accomplishing today with 312,000 active duty members and what we are doing around the world in deploy- ments, family life and the level of education—I am in awe of the Airmen serving today. God bless you.


CMSAF #16 Jim Roy — We are a member of the absolutely best educated, best experienced and most combat-hardened force there has ever been in the world. Most of you joined during this time, while we’ve been in com- bat. Tank goodness for you and thank you for joining this great military.


In 1982, when I joined the Air Force as a civil engineer,


one of the things we did every single month is we had roll call and we had training which consisted of bringing your bags in so someone could go through them to make sure you had six underwear and a 60-day supply of this and a 60-day supply of that, and then you got to wear your little dickie and gloss your boots. Now, I think of your training today versus what I did in 1983, and we are so much further advanced than what we were back then. Senior NCOs out there and those young aspiring NCOs


that are going to be our future leaders and senior leaders in our Air Force—the challenge to you is to make sure we don’t go back to that time and way of thinking. You must make sure you fight for every single dollar there is for training. Te very first thing to go when we talk about budget cuts is train- ing. And it’s one of those items that you as an NCO and Senior NCO must protect and fight for. Te last thing you want to do is send somebody out into combat without having the proper training. Being prepared, having the proper equip- ment, that’s up to you. It’s your responsibility to fight for it and stand up to the challenge. Folks, it is honorable to sit up here today with great


Chiefs who have made the Air Force what it is today. Te challenge to you is to make sure it stays as good as it is. But also make sure it carries into the next generation. You can do that when you make sure everyone understands how impor- tant it is that we continue to provide the proper education, training, resources and experiences for our Airmen for the future of our Air Force and the future of our Nation.


CMSAF #13 Jim Finch — I had no clue I would one day become the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force. My initial plan was to complete four years and move on with my life. As time passed, I became aware of more opportuni- ties. I started my Air Force career in the bomb dump as an ammo guy working in the missile shop.


However, after a few years, I attended PME and met some instructors there who changed my world. Tey were talking about concepts and methods to become a better NCO, leader and person. I began to learn what was important to me and finally understood the direction we were headed as an Air Force. Tey made me feel like I was an important part of something special and I wanted to be part of their team. So I became a PME instructor. It was the turning point in my Air Force career. I was around people who challenged me to succeed by providing opportunities to move forward. Fortu- nately for me, they put me on a path that led me here.


CMSAF #12 Eric Benken — I’m often asked how the Air Force develops leaders, how we create warriors. Te minute these 18-year-olds come off the bus with bad haircuts and Marilyn Manson t-shirts on their back, there is an expecta- tion that they will become leaders. Tere is an expectation that they will work through challenges and hardships and


AFSA • WINTER 2017 15


CMSAF #16 Jim Roy shares a photo opportunity with Staff Sgt. Stephens.


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