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CMSAF visits Hickam, shares knowledge with Airmen

By Staff Sgt. Alexander Martinez, 15th Wing Public Affairs / Published January 20, 2015

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JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii -- Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Cody visited with Airmen and hosted separate all-calls with junior and senior enlisted Airmen during his visit here Jan. 15-16.  

Cody's discussion-style all-calls allowed for Airmen to openly express their career concerns or opinions.

"I liked how he made it a priority to come and talk to the bottom tier of the enlisted force," said Airman 1st Class Sarai Crook, 15th Comptroller Squadron.  "It made him approachable for Airmen like me to communicate with him. It wasn't just a 'Q and A', it was a discussion."

A major topic Cody addressed during his discussions was the implementation of the new enlisted performance report process, which he said will take time and effort to get right.

"These are big changes that require some real work by leadership and by you all in order for us to get our heads around why we're going in the direction we're going," Cody said. "We'll learn along the way ... and we'll make adjustments on execution. I think we're getting after everything that our Airmen are telling us, so I ask you to look at [the process] in its entirety; look at the end state, and work with us to get where we need to be."

Other topics addressed included concerns with joint basing, retention challenges in critical career fields, and the Air Force's ongoing plan to combat sexual assaults.

"[Sexual assault] is a big problem and it's a problem we will have to work at forever," Cody said. "We have to look out for each other and treat each other with dignity and respect."

Joining Cody on his visit was his wife, Chief Master Sgt. (ret) Athena Cody, Chief Master Sgt. Sandra Pfeffer, the first sergeant special duty career field manager, and Senior Airman Ariful Haque, one of the 12 Outstanding Airmen of 2014.

Cody thanked JBPHH Airmen for what they do, and reminded them of the important role they play in the Air Force.

"We are significantly engaged globally, more today than in the history of our country," Cody said. "We're in the longest sustained combat operations and we are the smallest Air Force since 1947. That's your legacy. You serve in a time in our Air Force and our country that is unprecedented because it's being done with an all-volunteer force. You should be proud of that, and you should be proud that you are shaping our future. It's important to know how much we appreciate you and your families so thanks for what you do."