CMSAF Gaylor Praises Total Force

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Tanya Holditch
  • 403rd Wing Public Affairs
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, MISS --  Seamless is how the fifth Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Bob Gaylor described  the relationship between the active duty and Reserve after arriving here Thursday to speak at the NCO Academy graduation. 

"Wow! What a tremendous picture," said Chief Gaylor. "At Keesler, there's a synergistic effect of each particular unit doing its job to contribute to the total mission of Keesler--I think it's great how it all comes together," he said in relation to the teamwork among the 81st Training Wing, the 2nd Air Force and the 403rd Wing. 

The unity between active duty Airmen and Citizen Airmen here and elsewhere in the Air Force is "seamless," according to Chief Gaylor. "I can neither tell them apart, nor do I even ask if they are Guard, Reserve or active duty. All I want to know is, 'what is the mission, and what do you do?'" 

Chief Gaylor said the teamwork between Citizen Airmen and active duty has not changed since he joined the Air Force in 1948. "When the Korean War broke out in 1950, we were caught by surprise and our active force literally was not prepared to fight the war by itself. 

"We recalled the Reserve and the Guard to go to Korea to do most of the air combat--they literally fought the air war early on. 

"During the Cold War period, they performed more of a state-of-preparation mission as opposed to active duty," the Chief explained. "Then with Desert Storm and the present fight they came back into play. Without the Guard and the Reserve, we would not be able to do the job we do." 

Among the changes he said he has seen since he was chief master sergeant of the Air Force include training, technology and the addition of family programs. 

"What impresses me is highly trained Airmen working on a sophisticated piece of equipment or system and knowing how to do it," he said. "Training and technology come together because technology is no good if you don't have someone who knows how to operate (the equipment or system). 

"The Airmen of today are better trained," said Chief Gaylor, who never went to an Airman Leadership School because they didn't exist. "I didn't go to an NCO Academy until I was a senior master sergeant. The training today comes at the right time to prepare Airmen before they make mistakes. 

"We've also recognized the importance of family--we didn't always do that," he said, praising the number of programs and services designed to support the family. "When I went to Korea in 1956, there was no program available to my wife and family--they were simply on their own." 

In addition to an enlisted call, the chief visited the 81st Security Forces Squadron, the 81st Training Group, the 81st Medical Group and Base Operations. He lunched with Keesler base council members and ended the day with the Air Force Thunderbirds, who were in town for the Air Show. 

He advised Airmen he encountered throughout his stay to develop a passion for the Air Force if they don't already have it. 

"The Air Force is not a job--it's a way of life," he said as he talked about the opportunities available to Airmen that aren't available in other jobs. "I just felt that I was a part of something special, and I was very proud that the Air Force allowed me to serve." 

Chief Gaylor said he realizes not everyone is going to stay in 31 years like he did, but his goal is for each Airmen to feel that the time they did spend was time well spent.