ACC command chief visits premier AOR airlift wing

Published Nov. 22, 2008
By Staff Sgt. Vincent Borden
386th Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Chief Master Sgts. Stephen Sullens, command chief of Air Combat Command, and Scott Dearduff, Ninth Air Force command chief, toured the workplaces of deployed Airmen at the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing from Nov. 18 to Nov. 20. Their goal was to speak to deployed servicemen and women in order to get a firsthand account of any problems or ideas of improvement they had on their minds.

In that, Chief Sullens felt he was successful. During an Enlisted Call held at the base's theater, he expressed a sincere appreciation for the candid, honest and thoughtful comments he heard from Airmen around the wing.

Chief Sullens and Chief Dearduff visited workcenters doing the numerous operations of the wing, from the 386th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron's recreation center, to the flightline and C-130 mechanics.

At the call, Chief Sullens discussed adherence to discipline and standards, something he said he could feel was strong throughout the wing.

Chief Sullens was also impressed with the professionalism and accomplishments of Airmen he spoke to.

"I just marvel at what our Airmen are doing. It's amazing," said Chief Sullens, who visited from Langley Air Force Base, Va. "From the Airman in medicine ... to the people working force protection escort duties and commanders and chiefs. These are all names I recognize as platinum-level talent, and that they are here serving their country with the fervor that they are is impressive."

In his position at ACC, Chief Sullens is the sole enlisted advisor to Gen. John Corley, ACC commander. His focus is on the direction of the 84,000 enlisted personnel stationed and deployed throughout the world, something that involves both leadership and proper management.

"When we talk about managing an enlisted force, that's creating a career track when [Airmen] can be anything they want to be, as opposed to being stove piped into one thing you can never get out of," said Chief Sullens, a native of Spokane, Wash. "Providing those types of opportunities to up and coming leaders - that's what we like to do."

The chief said that development is the key to producing those opportunities. The timing of professional military and technical upgrade training are among some of the areas being looked at, in order to create clear paths for different Airmen with differing priorities.

In his discussion with Airmen, Chief Sullens explained his visit was part of his job "to serve and support [the Airmen] out here doing our nation's business," to organize, train and equip them.

He expressed gratitude for the reasons why the Airmen are here on deployments, some for long extended periods of time, performing their missions daily.

"It's probably not a coincidence, by virtue of what you do here on a daily basis, we've not had an attack on our soil since Sept. 11," Chief Sullens said to the audience. "I thank you for what you have done, and what you're going to do."

Before heading back to Langley and Shaw AFB, S.C., to adjoin the common threads of concern from deployed Airmen they spoke with, Chief Sullens and Chief Dearduff will visit other locations in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. The most common concerns are planned to be addressed at some point in the future.