LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE — Chief Master Sgt. Robert Boyer, 19th Air Force command chief, visited the Little Rock Air Force Base in March as the guest speaker for the 314th Maintenance Professional of the Year Banquet.
The chief spent time with senior noncommissioned officers, NCOs and airmen. He also visited the 48th Airlift Squadron, the 189th Airlift Wing, the 714th Training Squadron and the nonprior service dormitories. He also attended the 62nd Airlift Squadron change-of-command ceremony.
At a luncheon with airmen and NCOs, Boyer shared his perspective with members of a younger generation. He explained that there is a difference in each generation, and enlisted leaders need to adapt to communicate with “millennials.”
“When airmen ask questions, it’s because they want to own the issue,” Boyer said. “Our airmen ask questions because they care.”
He added that relationships are the key to communication with airmen.
“It’s about relationships. You have to know how to work with people. You can’t parent like you were parented,” Boyer said, referring to himself and other chiefs. “It’s up to us to change.”
The chief talked to the airmen about the Profession of Arms Center of Excellence website, www.airman.af.mil. According to the site, U.S. Air Force Professionalism has four goals: Inspire a strong commitment to the profession of arms; promote the right mindset to enhance effectiveness and trust; foster relationships that strengthen an environment of trust; and enhance a culture of shared identity, dignity and respect.
Boyer charged airmen to ask themselves, “When you walk away from the Air Force, what is your legacy going to be?”
While visiting maintainers on the flight line, the chief viewed innovation, fueled by airmen. Senior Airman Laketa Kinghorne, a 314th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron member, presented an initiative produced by the communication navigation shop. The team created a new maintenance capability that can be performed on the communication cords used by an aircrew during flight. The new initiative saves the Air Force money because cords can be repaired instead of purchased new each time they are broken.
After visiting the flight line, Boyer met with Tech. Sgt. Leif Kuester, 314th AMXS propulsion craftsman, and four airmen who were servicing propellers and checking the hydraulic fluid levels.
Additionally, Boyer met with Col. Robert Ator, 189th Airlift Wing commander. During this visit, Ator explained the deep-rooted partnership the 189th AW and the 314th AW share to accomplish the schoolhouse mission.
Boyer finished the day by spending time with technical-school airmen, when they were given the opportunity to ask various questions about topics that included their roles and futures in the Air Force.