Thursdays with Chief

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Shannon Hall
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Command chief master sergeants are liaisons between the wing commander and enlisted Airmen. They are the primary advisor to the commander on matters concerning the morale, welfare, training, professional development, career progression and effective utilization of the base's enlisted force. What better way to accomplish this mission than spending an entire day with an Airman?

Chief Master Sgt. Eddie Webb, 7th Bomb Wing command chief, has implemented a new program where he spends two days a month with an Airman: "Thursdays with Chief" and "Chief's Turn to Learn."

On "Thursdays with Chief" an Airman shadows Webb for an entire day. First, the Airman meets with the Chief and they get to know each other better, then the day begins. The selectee sits in on the wing agency staff meeting, group chief's meeting, luncheons, teleconferences, personnel meetings and does physical training at the end of the day.

"The purpose of this program is to help validate the perspective variances and responsibilities in the Air Force," Webb said. "It gives the Airmen an insight to what goes on at higher levels and they can take that back and share it with their team."

This program assists Airmen in understanding what goes on at higher level Air Force by allowing them to be behind closed doors and experience first-hand the work put in by a command chief.

"I realized how critical each tier's job is, but he made being a command chief a human role," said Airman 1st Class Adam Disque, 7th Aerospace Medicine Squadron bioenvironmental technician. "He might go home and be out of uniform at 4:30 p.m. but he is still accomplishing the Air Force mission throughout the night."

Although it is important for Airmen to have some knowledge of what goes on at the higher levels, it's also significant for senior leaders to know what enlisted members are accomplishing every day.
"Chief's Turn to Learn" offers Airmen the chance to show Chief Webb what they do on a daily basis to accomplish the Air Force mission.

"I spend my entire day with a 3-level Airman doing everything they do," Webb said. "By spending all day with them, I get the reaffirmation of how great and sharp they are. It gives me fuel for the next day when I come back to work."

Webb shows up when they do, wears the same uniform, eats the same lunch, does the same hard labor and goes home when they do.

"It's a great opportunity that someone with that status would come to our shop," said Senior Airman Briggen Baker, 7th Equipment Maintenance Squadron wheel and tire journeyman. "It's a dirty job and he didn't want any special treatment. He wanted to know the people behind keeping our aircrafts in the air."

To be selected to participate in this program, Airmen must get with their group superintendent and prove to be successful and exemplary in their job.This program gives both the command chief and young Airmen more knowledge of the entire Air Force, not just the level they work at every day.

"When I go and shadow Airmen, they teach me. When Airmen shadow me, I teach them," Webb said. "This program is educational for everyone and showcases everyone's capabilities, from senior leadership to junior enlisted. Everyone plays an important role, no matter their job or rank."