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Interview with CMSAF James Cody

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. George Thompson
  • 386th Air Expeditionary Wing
SOUTHWEST ASIA --  Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Cody, met with the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs Officer here Feb. 1 to discuss critical issues facing the enlisted force, leadership and Enlisted Performance Reports prior to an All Call as he and the Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III made their first stop on a multi-base tour to the Air Force Central Command area of responsibility.

PAO: What do you see as the most critical issue facing the enlisted force?

Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Cody:
There are a lot of issues facing our enlisted force and really by extension our entire Air Force. I think we are all aware of the significant fiscal environment that we face and given that fiscal environment we're having to make a lot of choices in our Air Force. It really comes down to the things we will and will not do anymore. It's important as our airmen hear about this, worry about this, and are concerned about this, they understand and appreciate that their leadership is engaged. We are working this from the aspect of what we need to do to maintain a proper level of readiness so our airmen can accomplish the mission we are asking them to accomplish. At the same time, we will not lose sight of the impact it has on the individual airmen and their families and their abilities to continue to be able to serve. That's an important piece of this because it's easy for airmen across the Air Force to get side-focused on things we don't need them focusing on, versus the mission. Leadership is working this, we are working hard and we promise that we are going to do our best to make sure you have what you need to accomplish the mission we are asking you to do.

PAO: In regards to our EPR system, Former CMSAF Roy said we need bold leaders to set high standards and help Airmen achieve them. We need those bold leaders to rate each individual fairly and accurately, and that isn't easy. What are your initial thoughts about our EPR system, will it change under your tenure and how can we change the culture surrounding the EPR system?

Cody:
First and for most I couldn't agree more with CMSAF retired Roy's position on bold leadership. We need it, we've always needed it and we are going to count on it today and into the future. When you talk about standards and setting high standards -- that's what we do as airmen. We set high standards for ourselves and we achieve those standards. When you talk about the EPR specifically and our performance assessment, we have a responsibility to give our airmen fair and honest feedback. Those performance assessments need to be fair and we need to delineate who is the very best, who has met the standards and we need to clearly show those who have not met the standards. So as we move forward -- and I've talked with General Welsh about this several times -- we are going to look at EPRs. We promise you that. But we are going to begin in a very thoughtful way and that is to go back and look at what we have already looked at to make sure we reevaluated and reviewed those things we were thinking of in the past before we move forward. But really the commitment we have to this is we are going to take a serious look at EPRs and the entire system to ensure they are doing what we want them to do for us as an Air Force.

PAO: In terms of leadership, what do you expect from our Junior Enlisted Airman, NCOs and Senior NCOs and what is your leadership style or approach?

Cody:
So with those three groups I expect the same thing: leadership! We expect all airmen to lead and depending on your role, that leadership is different. On any given day you are leading or following. In most cases you are doing a combination of both, and we expect our airmen to do that.

We expect you to be the best at your job, to try your best, and at the foundation of that is dignity and respect and how we treat each other. My leadership philosophy all begins with that. Leaders treat each other with dignity and respect, and airmen will follow. If you treat an airman with dignity and respect, you do the best job you can and our airmen will recognize that; they will follow you anywhere -- even through the toughest of times.


PAO: What advice would you give someone going into a leadership position for the very first time?

Cody:
Leadership is going to be the most rewarding and demanding thing you will ever do in our Air Force and probably in your life. I think what you have to first recognize is it's a privilege. You have to recognize that it's a privilege and it's not about you, it's about the people you lead. If you consider that up front you are going to be successful.

PAO: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Cody:
Thank you to all the airmen here at the 386th for everything you are doing, the sacrifices that the individual airmen are making and their families are making. I understand how difficult it is to serve in a deployed environment. Also, the relationships you are building here with our host nation are important and they will become increasingly important over time, certainly as we go from an expeditionary combat operations focused posture here, to a more enduring presence where building and strengthening current partnerships will be more important.