22nd AF Command Chief Visits 403rd Wing

Published May 2, 2010
By Master Sgt. Michael Duhe
403rd Wing Public Affairs

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, MISS. -- Chief Master Sgt. Steven Larwood, 22nd Air Force command chief, visited with Reservists of the 403rd Wing during May's Unit Training Assembly to hear the concerns of the unit's enlisted force.

His visit included stops at a variety of 403rd Wing units and functions, and a meeting with airmen interested in establishing a Rising 6 council within the unit.

It was the chief's first official visit to the 403rd Wing, Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., in his current role, which he began last June. He said there were two things he hoped to accomplish with his visit - to extend the gratitude of Maj. Gen. James Rubeor, 22nd Air Force commander; to the airmen of the 403rd Wing for their hard work; and to focus on any issues regarding the development of the unit's enlisted force.

"It's always important to keep in touch with the people doing the job within different levels of the organization, whether it be airmen or senior enlisted," Chief Larwood said. "They're all at a different point in their career or their life, and they might be experiencing issues or concerns that we're not aware of.

"The best way to do that is to go out and strike up conversations with them ... and find out if there's anything we can do to make their military careers more rewarding," he explained.

To help initiate the conversation, Chief Larwood often poses this question during his visits: "If you were Gen. (Norton) Schwartz, what would you change about the Air Force?"

One of the most common answers: eliminate or reduce time-consuming additional requirements during UTA weekends, with both operations tempo and "peripheral issues," such as ancillary training and new physical fitness requirements, according to the chief.

"That's probably the overriding concern I get, no matter what unit I visit in 22nd Air Force," he said.

According to Chief Larwood, the biggest challenge faced by Reservists involves the "Reserve triad" -- maintaining a balance between their family, civilian job and their Reserve commitment. He compared this to a three-legged stool.

"If you look at it as a three-legged stool, you realize that if any one of those legs is missing or short, the stool is not functioning right," he said. "Therein lies the life of a Reservist. We're always mindful of the fact that every one of these is important, and at any given time in your life, one of the legs of that stool could be the most important thing."

With the Reserve Command's focus on enlisted force development, Chief Larwood said he believes mentoring has an important role. The command is currently developing a plan based on the officer mentorship system.

"They do a good job of taking young officers and putting them on a deliberate development track to make future leaders out of them," he commented. "We're in the process of developing the same tool for enlisted airmen.

"I always tell airmen to set a realistic, challenging goal for yourself and then find someone else who has done it to help you get there," he added.

During a visit to the 403rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Chief Larwood discussed a wide range of concerns with more than a dozen enlisted Reservists. For their part, the airmen said they were grateful for his visit.

"He seemed really sincere and wants to help us work out any problems we have," said Senior Airman Kenneth Wagster, a C-130J crew chief who participated in the discussion. "That's the kind of leadership we need."

Chief Larwood urged airmen to avoid complacency or settling into a comfort zone in their careers. "The day you put on a new stripe or start a new job is the day you start preparing for that next stripe or next job," he said.

Airmen should also take advantage of any opportunities to lead, Chief Larwood advised.

"There are leadership traits in each of us," he said. "You can lead from anywhere in your organization. You don't need a title to lead because leadership is nothing more than influencing people. I like to say that leadership is a choice we make, not a place we sit."