Test Wing chief advocates top care in mission, self

  • Published
  • By Minty Knighton
  • Team Eglin Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Since he became the 96th Test Wing command chief six months ago, Chief Master Sgt. Marcus Snoddy has been balancing the demands of a new command with the needs of his Airmen.

Snoddy is responsible for advising the commander on operational, strategic and personnel issues.

"It looks simple, but it's not," said Snoddy. "Our mission is expansive and deals with not only Air Force organizations, but all the DoD organizations here."

Snoddy handles his duties methodically.

"First we must understand the mission," he said. "When I held enlisted calls, the first thing I did was inform the Airmen of the history of the base. I talked about James Plew and how Eglin got its start as a bombing range."

Snoddy did this because he said he feels it is important for Airmen to know the history and understand the significance of the current mission and how that mission ties into their own importance.

He then focused on connecting Airmen to the operational side of the mission.

"I want the Airmen to know the weapons they test and send out into the field help reduce collateral damage," said Snoddy. "Personnelists who work promotions need to know how valuable they are as well. If a person in the field is concerned about a promotion, that Airman is not focused on the mission at hand. Having our personnelist understand that helps them to know their direct role and their importance."

Finally, Snoddy focuses on what he considers to be most important, the individual.

"Not many companies have people dedicated to their mission like our Airmen," said Snoddy. "Less than one percent chose to join the military, and to wear the uniform is a unique challenge.  They are an elite group."

In an effort to help Airmen in this elite profession, Snoddy emphasizes several goals.

"I need them to be committed and work to the best of their ability, because it's a symbiotic connection; everyone is dependent on everyone else," he said. "When this is done, it increases not only personal confidence, but instills a pride in service."

Although skill and work ethic are important, Snoddy reminds them it is important to tend to the needs of a person as a whole.

"I encourage supervisors to connect to their Airmen, enlisted, officers, and civilians on a deeper level in order to recognize subtle changes," he said. "I have an open door policy, but encourage Airmen to first give their leadership an opportunity to help address their concerns, but in no way does that limit them from coming to me."

Snoddy does his part by visiting with Airmen every chance he gets with periodic unit visits and throughout his free time at the commissary, fitness center, and throughout the community. He hopes it sets an example for others to follow.

"I try to live by one of my favorite quotes by Gen. John C. Maxwell, 'people don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care.'"