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380AEW Article

CENTCOM senior enlisted leader speaks to 380th AEW

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Amanda Savannah
  • 380th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  The U.S. Central Command's senior enlisted leader spoke to Airmen and Soldiers at the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing during a visit Oct. 11.

Army Command Sergeant Major Frank Grippe gave an overview of what military forces here bring to the CENTCOM mission and answered questions from the audience during his briefing.

"Your mission here allows the United States to flex multiple muscles with multiple platforms here," Grippe said. "Don't ever (forget) that what you're doing here, from the tactical level to the operational level, is having strategic effects ... for our nation on a daily basis."

Grippe said he couldn't think of a better mission statement than that of the 380th AEW: "Execute Today, Prepare for Tomorrow."

"That's what you have to do every day," he said.

Grippe also emphasized his belief in the importance of standards before opening the floor to questions.

"It's the simplicity in each service ... of ensuring that you wear your haircuts right, your hairdos right, your uniform right, and keep fit and trim within service standards," the CENTCOM senior enlisted leader said. "Because if you can't do the basics correctly, how do I know you're going to be able to (perform a mission) correctly?"

The first question Grippe received focused on being competitive through education.

Grippe encouraged military members to continue their military structured self development and education while deployed.

"You personally have a stake in yourselves," he said. "You have to plan your road map ... where you're going as an officer or as an NCO or junior enlisted."

The command sergeant major also talked about how the quality of today's force amazes him in his 31 years of service.

"We're the best of the best," he said. He said every U.S. military branch requires enlistees meet three overall standards of having a high school diploma at a minimum, meet medical standards and "be just a good wholesome individual."

"Only three out of 10 (Americans) between (the ages of) 17 and 25 meet the criteria," Grippe said. "The one individual out of that three, who raises their right hand, is quite the special individual. Don't forget how elite each and every one of you is."

Grippe talked about leadership when asked a question about how he motivates himself and others. He said leaders should talk to their people about what the mission is, the importance of the mission, the strategic picture, and standards.

"The more stringent you are on standards, the more transparent you are to your service members," he said. "The more open you are to your service members while you're hammering standards, the more inspired people are going to be."

Other questions Grippe answered included training of reservists and the future of the military with force draw down.

Spc. John Verry, 1st Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery Regiment Soldier, attended Grippe's briefing.

"It's definitely good to have command come down from the top," Verry said. "It definitely gives us all motivation and keeps our drive up, especially in providing an overall picture for the area and how we impact it just with our day-to-day jobs. It was definitely good motivation."

Tech. Sgt. Jose Chavira, 380th Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron Airman, also appreciated Grippe's comments.

"It's very awesome to get insights from the command sergeant major," Chavira said. "It's very inspiring to hear his thoughts, him having the bigger picture in mind, and to be able to share his experience with the wing. I thought it was great to hear him speak, and throw air power out there, highlighting what we do here."