CMSAF Gaylor: 'Today's Airmen are tops'

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Nathan Allen
  • 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  Retired Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force No. 5 Robert Gaylor visited Little Rock Air Force Base May 14 and 15 for the 19th Security Forces Squadron Dining Out May 15.

Chief Gaylor, a former Security Forces Squadron Airman, said he relishes the opportunity to speak with Airman and rarely takes a visit without seizing the opportunity to visit as many Airmen as he can.

"Whenever I get an invite, I then immediately get with the command chief and we arrange some other activities. I don't like to just fly in, speak, and fly out."

As the Air Force's former highest enlisted leader, Chief Gaylor believes his interaction with today's Airmen is a matter of shared heritage.

"I joined in '48, so I've been in 61 years. It's a matter of sharing successes, frustrations, growth and evolution so the Airmen of today appreciate the Air Force of today. I think when they know what it took to get us to where we are, then they are able to appreciate where we are."

According to Chief Gaylor, the difference between today's Air Force and the service he helped form while still enlisted can be summed by two words: training and technology.

"The training is much improved. I didn't go to tech school out of basic training because there wasn't one for my career field. Now everyone immediately goes to technical training," he said. "I also see the technological advancement and I think it's true that the equipment without the knowledge to operate it is of no value, and the knowledge without the equipment to operate is of no value, so the two are hand in hand. It's exciting to see Airmen operating the equipment to do the job."

In an Airmen's Call at the base theater May 15, Chief Gaylor left the Airmen with three words which, when colliding, are likely to lead to success: opportunity, attitude and aptitude.

"You take an intelligent Airman with the right attitude and an opportunity to perform, you've got success," he said.

The Airmen the chief met during his visit to the Rock, as well as the rest of the Airmen he meets in his travels to bases around the world, earn rave reviews in their accomplishment of the mission and the continuation of the Air Force's great heritage.

"I think they're tops! They are so impressive. They've got their head on straight, they're motivated, they're eager to serve. I like what I see. In any society, there's gonna be an exception, but in the main, the Airmen of today are so very impressive, so sharp, and so motivated. I've been to 17 bases this year, so I see the Air Force just about as much as anyone. When I say I'm impressed, I'm not talking about a few Airmen, I'm talking thousands," the Chief said.

CMSAF Gaylor: 'Today's Airmen are tops'

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Nathan Allen
  • 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  Retired Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force No. 5 Robert Gaylor visited Little Rock Air Force Base May 14 and 15 for the 19th Security Forces Squadron Dining Out May 15.

Chief Gaylor, a former Security Forces Squadron Airman, said he relishes the opportunity to speak with Airman and rarely takes a visit without seizing the opportunity to visit as many Airmen as he can.

"Whenever I get an invite, I then immediately get with the command chief and we arrange some other activities. I don't like to just fly in, speak, and fly out."

As the Air Force's former highest enlisted leader, Chief Gaylor believes his interaction with today's Airmen is a matter of shared heritage.

"I joined in '48, so I've been in 61 years. It's a matter of sharing successes, frustrations, growth and evolution so the Airmen of today appreciate the Air Force of today. I think when they know what it took to get us to where we are, then they are able to appreciate where we are."

According to Chief Gaylor, the difference between today's Air Force and the service he helped form while still enlisted can be summed by two words: training and technology.

"The training is much improved. I didn't go to tech school out of basic training because there wasn't one for my career field. Now everyone immediately goes to technical training," he said. "I also see the technological advancement and I think it's true that the equipment without the knowledge to operate it is of no value, and the knowledge without the equipment to operate is of no value, so the two are hand in hand. It's exciting to see Airmen operating the equipment to do the job."

In an Airmen's Call at the base theater May 15, Chief Gaylor left the Airmen with three words which, when colliding, are likely to lead to success: opportunity, attitude and aptitude.

"You take an intelligent Airman with the right attitude and an opportunity to perform, you've got success," he said.

The Airmen the chief met during his visit to the Rock, as well as the rest of the Airmen he meets in his travels to bases around the world, earn rave reviews in their accomplishment of the mission and the continuation of the Air Force's great heritage.

"I think they're tops! They are so impressive. They've got their head on straight, they're motivated, they're eager to serve. I like what I see. In any society, there's gonna be an exception, but in the main, the Airmen of today are so very impressive, so sharp, and so motivated. I've been to 17 bases this year, so I see the Air Force just about as much as anyone. When I say I'm impressed, I'm not talking about a few Airmen, I'm talking thousands," the Chief said.