AFCENT command chief visits KAF

Published March 15, 2010
By Tech. Sgt. Renni Thornton
451st Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan -- The Command Chief for U. S. Air Forces Central, Southwest Asia, visited Kandahar Airfield March 1 through 4 to check on the morale of the Airmen serving here and see how things were going.

Command Chief Master Sgt. Mark J. Villella visited with various units during his 3-day visit.

"The reason for the visit was morale and to get smarter on what they do," said Chief Villella. He also said because the missions are so multi-faceted, he wanted to see how Airmen did their jobs.

Part of the chief's job is to advise the commander and staff on matters influencing the health, welfare, morale and effective utilization of assigned enlisted personnel.

For once, he said, he will go back to his office without a "to do" list of issues or concerns.

He attributes that to leadership, admiring the way Chief Master Sgt. Steve K. McDonald, 451st Air Expeditionary Wing command chief relates to Airmen.

"I got to have him escort me for three days and he is a pretty good guy," Chief Villella said. "It's nice to see how he interacts with the Airmen. He really relates to people, and that is true leadership."

Another mark of true leadership is the level of authority and excellence in which Airmen have to rise to that impresses him the most, he said.

He referred to a conversation with Airmen from an explosive ordinance disposal unit on KAF.

"Sometimes you may have a senior airman who is assigned to an IED strike, and he has to be in charge and he's only a senior airman who is working with an Army captain or Army major and has to say 'I've got to secure this scene, Sir.' And yet, he's only a senior airman, but he has to take charge of that scene and respectfully do that."

He said he recognizes and appreciates the fact that many Airmen are serving in some pretty austere conditions.

"Some of them are going to some areas where there are no hot meals," he said. "Some of those FOBs are pretty sparse. But some of the guys are happy about being out there--they are closer to the fight, closer to the mission, closer to the battle."

The chief said his visits are more meaningful when he can talk to the Airmen doing the job.

"I like to go out and visit Airmen and see what's on their minds, find out what issues or concerns they have. I like to meet them and hear their stories."