CMSAF visits Nellis; focusses on junior Airmen's issues Published Feb. 3, 2010 By Airman 1st Class Michael Charles Nellis Public Affairs Office NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- The 16th Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Roy visited Airmen at Nellis Feb. 2, during his visit to the Las Vegas area for the Air Force Agile Combat Support Symposium. During this second visit of Chief Roy to the Las Vegas area in 2010, the chief master sergeant of the Air Force focused on issues and concerns of the junior grade Airmen. "Our junior Airmen are the future of the Air Force," Chief Roy said. "It only makes sense that we give our young Airmen the tools needed to push our Air Force to new heights in the 21st century." Chief Roy began his trip to Nellis, with a brief visit to the U.S. Air Force Aerial Demonstration Team 'Thunderbirds.' While there, he addressed the enlisted Airmen of the team and was presented a Thunderbird lithograph by Lt. Col. Case Cunningham, Thunderbirds commander. "This was my first time visiting the Thunderbirds," Chief Roy said. "It was a unique experience and I had a wonderful time talking with the Airmen there." After visiting with the Thunderbirds, Chief Roy turned his focus to junior Airmen, by having lunch with 15 Airmen from different squadrons around Nellis. During this lunch the senior enlisted member of the Air Force discussed training concerns and professional military education opportunities available to them. "Probably the most important of my priorities as the chief master sergeant of the Air Force is deliberately developing Airmen," Chief Roy said. "The three aspects of this development- training, education and experiences- are the most important tools we can give to these Airmen, for them to be successful in their career. I would be remiss in my duties as a senior leader if I didn't ensure our junior Airmen are getting this triangle of development and find solutions if they aren't." Chief Roy went on to address more than 400 Airmen and Marines at the base theater during an enlisted call where he focused on Joint Training and how it coincides with the development of Airmen. After the conclusion of the enlisted call, Chief Roy toured the unaccompanied Airmen housing. During the tour he learned about various quality of life improvements taking place in the junior Airman dormitories. He also inspected the room of Airman 1st Class Ryan Lowery from the 99th Security Forces Squadron. Chief Roy concluded his second visit to Nellis with a tour of the Deployment Control Center. While at the deployment center he visited the Individual Protective Equipment Team. The team was named the superior performance team during the 99 ABW Operation Readiness Inspection Jan. 25-59. He addressed the team of mostly junior Airmen after congratulating each one on their accomplishment. "Today it is extremely important to be able to prepare and deploy Airmen as well as reintegrate them back into their squadron when they return." Chief Roy said. "Airmen now are gaining valuable training in an area that Airmen from my era didn't receive that much of. That training is combat training. What you individuals at the deployment center do is instrumental to that training and accomplishing the mission for overseas contingency operations." The chief master sergeant of the Air Force left the Las Vegas area after being a guest speaker at the Agile Combat Support Symposium Feb. 3.
