ACC command chief visits Dyess, answers key questions

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  • By 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The Air Combat Command, command chief visited Dyess Aug. 14-15 for a site visit and to serve as the key note speaker for both an Airman Leadership School graduation and the annual Enlisted Dining Out. 

Command Chief Master Sgt. Stephen Sullens also answered some key questions about their importance in fighting and winning the Global War on Terrorism, what Dyess is doing well and should focus more on, and career advice for Airmen. 

1. Many Airmen don't realize that the work they do in garrison or deployed has a much larger impact on the "big picture" - the Global War on Terrorism. What do you normally tell Airmen to help them understand their role and importance in fighting and winning today's fight? 

In today's world, an Airman's value or service is not defined by proximity to the enemy. Rather, wartime effects of Airmen are confined only by our imagination, advancing technology, and training. In truth, it is no longer even a "global" discussion. Emerging capabilities in space and cyberspace are redefining our capability and capacity to engage our enemy - on his doorstep, wherever that may be. And the key here is: on our enemy's home turf, not ours. Today's stakes are high; this war is about the safety and security of our country, and those of our allies. Were it not for persistent efforts "forward" - a conversation that also relies on extraordinary soldiers, sailors, marines, coast guardsmen and coalition partners - our enemy would not hesitate to bring the fight "back" to our homeland. Not all Airmen execute their duties through the business end of a rifle scope, or other targeting mechanism ... but all are critical to supporting those who do. This support includes taking care of our deployed team mates' families. 

2. In your travels around other ACC bases, what have you seen from ACC Airmen that stands out as significant, what are we doing exceptionally well, and to what do you attribute that? 

As trite as it sounds, we are constantly finding ways to do much, much more, with much, much less. Great leaders are getting a little more capacity from exceptional followers, who are keeping our rapidly aging weapons systems -- some nearly as old as me -- ready to take the fight to our enemy. To quote Gunny Highway, we "improvise, adapt, and overcome," and we are doing it better, each and every day. Right here at Dyess, extraordinary maintenance professionals are overcoming significant operational and logistical constraints to keep the B-1 mission-ready. In the support arena, the superior 7th Medical Group patriots are working innovative patient care and deployment processing initiatives. Similarly, the Airmen in the 317th Airlift Group are providing airlift capability and capacity to theater commanders, and at a deployment tempo rivaling any ACC unit. These examples are just typical of the many contributions of Team Dyess. Each is rooted in one basic, over-arching command principle--"people first ... mission always." Airmen simply "git-r-done." 

3. With a smaller force and ever-increasing ops tempo, what one area do you see is receiving the least amount of attention from busy Airmen (i.e. mentoring, training, volunteer work, etc), and what can Airmen do to ensure they don't lose focus on it? 

There are certainly a couple areas of concern. The first place we often see the effects of our inattention is in the eyes of those seated across from us at the dinner table: our friends and families. Another hour or two of duty here, another community volunteer need answered there, professional and civilian education, relocations, deployment tempo, and the stress and strain of reintegrating with our loved ones after duty on the battlefield adds up to take a significant toll on even our strongest personalities and most senior leaders. Balance is key -- spiritual, physical, and mental -- as is supervisory involvement, and setting and meeting individual priorities. Balance starts and ends with meaningful and honest dialogues -- on the flightline, around the dinner table, and sometimes with the chaplain, medical professional, or other referral expert. The second significant area is safety. In particular, young Airmen and NCOs tend to cut from the most aggressive bolts of cloth. Many work hard, and play harder. Some consider themselves bullet proof. Recent motorcycle incidents in ACC have combined the risk factors of alcohol and speed, often with deadly effect. Safety of our Airmen -- all Airmen -- is a never-ending battle, and our ability to save even one wingman hinges on consistent and persistent leadership, including individualized attention where appropriate. 

4. After 32 years of service, what one piece of advice could you give our Airmen that you think would help them throughout their careers? 

Follow and enforce our service rules, and think "big Air Force." Our over-arching tenets of duty--AFIs, policies, procedures, and TOs - demand compliance. Each is a non-negotiable "must do" and defines who we are as both a profession and a service. Any Airman aspiring to increase his sphere of leadership influence is well-served to base the career journey on institutional compliance and enforcement. Similarly, there is no one path or methodology to success, and no single functional family has the answer to every woe. We should all routinely poke our heads up out of the technical borough from time to time, and see, hear, and smell the successes and challenges of other communities. Our ability to grow and evolve as a service is directly linked to the continuous infusion of new ideas, leadership perspectives, and approaches to problem solving -- including the all important spirited discussion. Diversity -- of expertise, opinion, and ideas -- key those leadership evolutions. In the end, understand our profession, be the leader you are -- from the lessons taught by parents, to those infused by training instructors, to the specific expectations of current supervision -- and then employ collaborative, inclusive, and transparent mechanisms to advocate what is best for all Airmen.