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Chief Jaren visits Tinker, asks enlisted force to maintain proper perspective

  • Published
  • By Brandice J. O'Brien
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  It's a matter of perspective; just ask Air Force Materiel Command's Command Chief Master Sgt. Eric Jaren.

During a Feb. 23 visit to Tinker, the chief spoke at an enlisted call at the base theater and addressed issues concerning AFMC and the Air Force as a whole. While some topics seemed more worrisome than hopeful to the chief, several Airmen said they left the event with a renewed sense of purpose and motivation to tackle the future.

"We have to have a perspective that the cup is half full," said Chief Jaren. "I don't want to walk around being naïve, but I submit the challenges we are facing today are no greater than the challenges our Air Force faced, in context time, in the '60s, '70s and '80s."

Chief Jaren said although indications of the economy -- rising energy, technology and health care costs, and aging weapon systems -- are not promising, Airmen have to remain focused on the end goal.

"In your internal environment and external environment everything sounds like it's unraveling, but you can't lose sight or focus because of that," he said. "We have to work with it, use it to create solutions and efficiencies. Our sole focus can't be on that; it will permeate your organization and everyone around us."

There are positives. Since the new fitness program was instituted, there is only a 12-percent failure rate across the Air Force. Within AFMC, the failure rate is 9.9 percent, which is down from 23 percent. Additionally, 46.9 percent of all Air Force Airmen scored a 90 percent or above. AFMC again bested the Air Force at 47 percent.

"The change in the fitness program has created such an emphasis and our Airmen have responded to it," Chief Jaren said. "Airmen have embraced it and we have more above 90 percent, honestly, than we would have thought."

Despite the negative connotations associated with force shaping, the Chief encouraged Airmen to view the initiative as an opportunity.

To combat the chance of being "force shaped," the chief encouraged Airmen to retrain in another AFSC.

"Keep it in your control," he said. "You can do that by putting in for retraining. When opportunity comes at you, don't leave it up to someone else."

Suicide also remains a top concern. In the past year, the Air Force lost 100 Airmen, which Chief Jaren said was the most ever.

"No one can say what's causing an increase," Chief Jaren said. "One of the things we did in AFMC was get back to basics, and realize the importance of face-to-face time in a qualitative way. Roll call and Airmen's time are vital. Roll call takes five minutes, maybe 10."

Tech Sgt. David Kopec, of the 72nd Operations Support Squadron, agreed.

He said Airmen need to take care of one another as a family does and not treat time on base like a day job.

"Downrange, we take care of each other, but we need to do that here too," Sergeant Kopec said. "We tend to forget that."

Looking out for one another is tremendously important, the chief said. Not only can it reduce the risk of suicide, but it can also push an Airman to succeed.

Recently, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy introduced a program to develop Airmen. Organized by what Chief Roy calls "pillars," there are three phases which include experience, training and education.

Oftentimes experience and training naturally come with the job, while education is pushed to a back burner. That has to change.

"If you're not embracing education yet, I want you to," Chief Jaren said. "I want you to have a two-year degree. I want you to have all the options on the table for your Air Force career. I don't want you to be bound by limits."

Staff Sgt. Stephanie Hickman of the 72nd Security Forces Squadron, agreed.

"As a noncommissioned officer, I realize how we take care of ourselves shows how well we can take care of our troops and that's evident in physical training and preventing suicides," she said. "Chief Jaren gave great feedback and a lot of good information. He put the 're-blue' back into you."