Fifth CMSAF praises, reminisces with Eglin's enlisted

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

Retired Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Robert Gaylor, the fifth to hold the highest enlisted rank, spoke here today on changes in the Air Force since his retirement in 1979, 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 United States Air Force.

The "two Ts," 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. Now, most of you know what you're doing even before you set foot on Lackland. This just helps to make you better, more informed Airmen than I was." 

Chief Gaylor reached the Air Force's highest enlisted position and served as enlisted advisor from 1977 to 1979. At the age of 17, Chief Gaylor decided joining the Air Force seemed like the best decision he could make for himself at the time.

After completing Basic Military Training in 1948, he went to Waco Air Force Base, Texas, where he was assigned to security police. It was there that his training was directly impacted by technology.

Technology, the other T, will continue to evolve and is why continuing to training is so important to the Air Force's strength and success, he added.

"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 has, the chief 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 servicemember 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 that's what I do - the best decision I have made yet."

The 31-year Air Force veteran continues to enjoy a busy schedule -- something he never dreamed he would be doing 28 years after his retirement. Though he retired from active duty in 1979, the fifth Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, has continued to share his enthusiasm of the service for almost 60 years. 

"He's an Airman's Airman," said Chief Master Sgt. Troy Engholm, 96th Air Base Wing command chief master sergeant. "He truly cares about Airmen."

"So why do I continue to travel all over?" the chief 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."

The chief's travels take him far and wide to speak at ceremonies like Airman Leadership School graduations and promotion ceremonies. The chief will join seven Eglin senior master sergeants as they join the elite rank of chief master sergeant at Eglin's Officer's Club.

"The new chiefs should ask themselves 'What am I here to do,'" Chief Gaylor said. "That's the key. People sometimes lose sight of what they were hired to do."

Being among the few to have held the rank of chief master sergeant was a unique honor that came with a multitude of memorable experiences for Chief Gaylor.

"Every job I had provided unique opportunities," he said. "Never once did I feel there was an absence of opportunity. There was always something out there for me." 

Chief Gaylor feels the opportunity for the senior master sergeants is another "great opportunity" in the evolution of becoming an Airman. His parting words to them are to "be your own person and don't pretend to something you're not."