New 14th AF command chief visits Peterson

Published Oct. 24, 2007
By Staff Sgt. Jessica Switzer
21st Space Wing Public Affairs

PETERSON AFB, Colo. -- The 14th Air Force Command Chief Master Sergeant visited Airmen of the 21st Space Wing Oct. 17 and 18.

Chief Master Sgt. Thomas Narofsky shared meals with Airmen, NCOs and senior NCOs from both the 21st Space Wing and the 721st Mission Support Group, getting to know the Airmen and addressing many of the issues facing them in today's Air Force.

One of the things the chief stressed was the need not just to memorize the Airman's Creed but to internalize it and really live it.

"Airmen need to really own the creed," he said. "It's a part of the warrior mindset we instill in them from basic training, and it's important that they know and live the creed like they know and live the Air Force Core Values."

The chief said it's a responsibility of the chain of command to make sure the Airmen they oversee know the Airman's Creed.

"If Airmen don't know the creed then their entire chain of command has failed them," he said. "Supervisors, NCOICs and superintendents need to know the creed and lead their Airmen by example."

Another issue the chief stressed during his visit was the importance of professional development.

"Everyone in the Air Force today came into the Air Force to be a success, not a failure," he said. "Professional development is how you make sure you and your Airmen are successes."

He pointed out it is a supervisor's responsibility to make sure they are training the lower ranking Airmen in their unit to replace them.

"You need to make sure these Airmen are prepared for the new Air Force environment," he said. "They're your replacement and you want them to do your job better than you did and in a different environment."

The chief visited Airmen from nearly every unit within the 21st Space Wing during his visit, taking time to shake hands with every Airman he saw.

"I'm very impressed with what I've seen at the 21st Space Wing," he said.

14th AF Chief visits