Fifth chief master sergeant of the Air Force visits Sheppard, mentors Airmen

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jacob Corbin
  • 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The four "t's" - training, technology, tribe and trust - are a good summary of how the Air Force has changed in 60 years, the fifth chief master sergeant of the Air Force told Sheppard Airmen during a visit here March 27 and 28.

Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force (ret.) Robert Gaylor, who enlisted in 1948, spoke to about 2,000 Airmen, offering career advice and answering questions.

"The first t is training," Chief Gaylor said. "The Airmen of today are much better trained than the Airmen of yesterday. "

He said starting in basic military training at Lackland AFB, Texas, continuing on to technical training, Airmen Leadership School, the Community College of the Air Force and other world-class training, Airmen are continually training towards the next level.

Chief Gaylor said Sheppard and its technical training base counterparts are a big part of the improved training.

"They do such a good job of preparing the force," he said. "Training is the key to success for any endeavor. Training builds confidence."

But, he said, training is interdependent with the second T, technology. The chief said technology has evolved immensely since he joined. For instance, personnel issues that would have taken weeks to resolve when he first joined can now be handled almost instantly by the 24-hour Contact Center at Randolph AFB, Texas.

The chief said while technology has advanced a great deal without proper training it is useless - he also said the reverse is true.

"What good is technology without the training to use it," he said. "But also, what good is training if your equipment doesn't work?"

Chief Gaylor said the next major change is what he calls "tribe," referring to the feeling of family and togetherness the Air Force now promotes.

"We do so much better taking care of families," he said. "We promote the feeling of belonging."

He said the last major change is trust - in Airmen and their abilities.

"In the early days of the Air Force we didn't trust our Airmen," he said.

Chief Gaylor said when he was a security policeman he had to turn his badge in every evening.

"It made no sense, I can guard a multi-million dollar aircraft, but I can't be trust with my badge off-duty?" he said. "We do a much better job of trusting our Airmen today."

The chief had one request for the Airmen of today.

"Please don't ever do anything to ever violate that trust; it took us 60 years to get it."

Chief Gaylor said he continues to tour the nation speaking to Airmen because he wants to give back.

"The Air Force offered me so much opportunity," he said. "I just feel I want to come back and make sure others have that same opportunity. The Air Force is just part of my being."