How a command chief defines achievement

Published Feb. 8, 2011
By Tech. Sgt. Michael Voss
455th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan -- Achievement, one word, but what is it? How do you define it? It is a complicated word that Webster's defines as, a result gained by effort. But how does the command chief at one of the world's most important airfields define achievement?

After nearly 120 days of being the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing command chief, Chief Master Sgt. Craig Adams clearly understands how Bagram defines achievement, and how it relates to his own definitions of the word achievement.

"As I expected, it's been an all out sprint since I arrived, and after nearly four months I have a much better appreciation of this base, it's mission and the critical role every single Airman plays in generating airpower to support the ground forces in Afghanistan," said the chief who is serving a 365-day tour.

Each day, the 23-year-Air Force veteran is responsible for advising the wing commander on matters affecting the health, morale, welfare and effective utilization of over 3,000 deployed Airmen.

To do this, the chief has set out an agenda, including routine meetings with the wing and tenant unit first sergeants, chiefs and group superintendents, as well as daily communication with the 455th AEW commander, Brig. Gen. Jack Briggs II. This ensures the chief has his finger on the "pulse of the base" and all enlisted leaders are driving toward the same goals--taking care of our most valuable resource, the Airmen, and safely and effectively completing all aspects of the mission.

While these meetings are important, the chief prefers to spend the majority of his time dedicated to what he calls "battlespace circulation," or walking about visiting and talking with Airmen in their workspace.

"This is all part of achievement in action to me," he said. "I love to see first-hand what these Airmen do every day. It's my opportunity to say thank you and tell them what they are doing for the wing, the Air Force and their country is extremely important."

The Tiffin, Ohio native shared how privileged he feels to have been afforded the unique opportunity to serve as a deployed command chief.

"Anytime you get to be a small part of something this big, you embrace the experience. Serving alongside and representing Airmen in a combat environment is a dream come true--it's as good as it gets," he explained. "This is an extremely dynamic and fast-past environment, and 'Defending the Base, Supplying the Fight and Winning', is what we at Bagram are all about. We can't fail, so we need every single Airman in the fight every day," explained the Chief.

The adaptive leader acknowledges he has seen the Air Force undergo numerous changes.

"You know, many things about the Air Force have changed significantly over my career, but no matter how big or small the change, there must be commitment at all levels. The reason we continue to succeed and remain the best Air Force in the world is because of the valuable contributions of every member down to the most junior Airman," said the Chief.

The command chief, who still prefers face-to-face meetings or a phone call versus e-mail stated, "I think it's important to be visible, available and and as transparent as possible for our Airmen--we owe them that."

He likes to remind them there are no small contributions to the mission, and no one person or job is more important than another--"everything and everyone matters."

"If our Airmen can hang-up their uniform at the end of their shift and say they did their best, then I know they are making a difference here, and that's achievement in my book," he said.