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AFRC command chief: Look for opportunties to advance career

  • Published
  • By Sandra Pishner
  • 446th Airlift Wing
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  

Visiting reservists May 24 for a wing-sponsored career workshop, the command chief master sergeant for Air Force Reserve Command sees opportunity for career advancement at work here in the 446th Airlift Wing.

As impressed as he is with the Airmen of McChord, Chief Master Sgt. Jack Winsett will not be coming back. His own career advancement peaks when he retires March 7, 2007.

“This is the second workshop I’ve been too,” Chief Winsett said. “I’m very impressed with the offerings. It has a positive impact on careers with the sharing of knowledge and experience.”

Taking advantage of programs such as the career workshop will help reservists advance their careers, a subject of importance to the chief.

“You advance your career through events like this, by recognizing training opportunities, and by treating people fairly and equitably. You have to look for opportunities to succeed,” said Chief Winsett said.

Reservists in the world of C-17 airlift don’t have to look far for those opportunities. The operations tempo of the Globemaster is such that opportunity is begging to be taken advantage of by everyone.

“People in this wing obviously do this because the 446th AW is simply America’s best airlift wing,” said the chief, citing the wing’s 2005 Air Mobility Command Rodeo Best C-17 Wing win.

“The C-17 is our primary aircraft for airlift,” said Chief Winsett. “The operations tempo is not going to stop. The aircraft is the key to moving cargo and equipment in and out of the area of responsibility with effectiveness and efficiency.”

In the midst of the wing’s airlift activity is the constant stream of training requirements levied on reservists. In that arena, Headquarters AFRC is looking to lighten the load.

“(Lt. Gen. John A. Bradley, AFRC commander) is having the headquarters staff do a review of all ancillary training requirements – what we need, what we have, the intervals for recurring training – to see how to better manage all those requirements,” Chief Winsett said. “Can we tack on another hour in a given training to satisfy the requirement for the next 18 months versus 15 months? This is a hot issue.”

Other hot issues in the command include base realignment and closing, as well as recapitalization of the force. The Air Force, including the Reserve, must pare down more than 40,000 people, according to the chief.

While reducing force size saves money, changing the way the Reserve does business also serves that goal. While airlifters have been involved in the associate program for more than 30 years, the Reserve is transforming other units to that program.

“The associate program in the airlift world is the Air Force’s primer on how to save time and money,” said Chief Winsett. “It’s the perfect way to utilize our aircraft. It’s cost efficient; we bring experience to the table with our pilots, crew chiefs, maintenance. It’s the best way to go. We’re now taking that knowledge from the big airplanes out in the world and seeing how it will fit the little airplanes, such as the 419th Fighter Wing at Hill (AFB, Utah).”

With all that’s going on in the Air Force and the Air Force Reserve Command, Airmen will find opportunities to succeed and advance their careers. That, according to the chief, is what keeps the Air Force Reserve moving forward. (AFRC News Service)