19th Air Force command chief speaks with Columbus AFB NCOs

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Keith Holcomb
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Chief Master Sgt. David Brown, 19th Air Force command chief, visited Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, Aug. 6 to attend the 14th Flying Training Wing change of command and he also met with NCOs on base.

He held an all call for E-5 and E-6 members on Columbus AFB and spoke lightly about his career and what actions he thinks, from his experiences, would benefit today’s NCO tier. He spoke to the staff and technical sergeants about knowing their Airmen, being strong, understanding mentorship, leading by example, and selfless service are all things every NCO should be doing to make the most out of every day.

“[Leadership is about] stepping out your comfort zones, right now its staffs and techs and so forth, you’re right there, it’s what you should be thinking about,” Brown said. “Think about what you can do to stay motivated.”

He walked into the isles around the sergeants and spoke to individuals directly, making eye contact with everyone, and projected his voice in the auditorium.

“I didn’t join the Air Force until I was three years in,” Brown said. “We’re looking for folks who have been through something, that can lead, that can talk to folks … what we are looking for is our staff sergeants, technical sergeants and master sergeants to engage … to get out from behind your desk and talk to people. What happened to the art of actually engaging folks and sometimes being confrontational?”

He told the NCO’s to make sure they were not afraid of being confrontational if it is geared toward helping team and mission success.

“Being elite and being a supervisor is not just about hugging,” Brown said. “It’s telling folks what they need to hear to make them better. It’s not to hurt, not to hinder, but to help them become better.”

He gave examples of questions the sergeants in the room should know about their Airmen. Brown stated the importance of understanding their Airmen’s personal lives is essential in helping the younger enlisted members redirect away from unwanted issues. A more in-depth understanding allows an NCO and mentor navigate the Airmen to a better future.

“My first supervisor told me I wouldn’t make it past NCO, then he said better yet, I wouldn’t make it to NCO at all,” Brown said. “You know why he told me that? Can anybody take a guess why?”

A sergeant in the audience responded it was to “motivate him.”

“No, it was to hurt my feelings man,” Brown replied, as the crowd laughed. “Or I thought. I thought he hated me. Going back now, you were right. At the time I didn’t know it would hit me the way it would and send me in the right direction.”

Brown began explaining the talents Airmen have are not always obvious to the Airmen, or not always comfortable to the Airmen, but the NCO has to bring the talent forward.

A master sergeant pushed Brown out of his comfort zone to speak in briefings and work different tasks he didn’t want to do at the time. As a public health Airman surrounded by other Airmen of the same or higher rank he didn’t understand the master sergeant chose him because he had the potential to be more, to do better.

“I never changed my work ethic one bit,” Brown said. “If you work hard and are dedicated to what you do each and every day good things will come, but you have to be willing to do it. You have to open up your mind and ask what you need to do to make yourself and your airmen better.”

He reiterated the importance of the team, the group, the mission and made sure to pose a rhetorical question to engage the audience directly, “Are your Airmen excelling around you?”

Brown left the sergeants with introducing the next 19th Air Force command chief’s background and what the next chief will bring to the mission. He advised the sergeants to make sure they are making an impact on the war on terror every time they show up to work, because everyone is a piece of a large and important puzzle, keeping Americans safe at any moment of any day.

“When we talk about getting to the basics that’s what it’s truly about,” Brown said. “What is your mindset? Are you enthusiastic about what you do each and every day? Are you excited? Even after 29 years in the Air Force I’m still excited. Even through the bad times, I am excited because of folks like you.”

Meeting with sergeants after the all call, Brown gave advice, motivated, and inspired the next generation of leadership at Columbus AFB.