13th CMSAF visits Eielson Airmen

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Rachelle Coleman
  • 354TH Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Ret. Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Jim Finch visited Eielson Airmen sharing a few stories as well as words of advice here Sept. 16.

Chief Finch, who served as the 13th CMSAF August 1999 until June 2002, toured Eielson stopping at the Airman Leadership School and Two Seasons Dining Facility to talk to Airmen.

His experience as a commandant of the Pacific Air Forces Noncommissioned Officer Academy at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, and as the Superintendent for Noncommissioned Officer Professional Military Education, Air Force Military Personnel Center, Randolph Air Force Base, Texas helped guide most of his conversation with the ALS staff and students.

"It was such an honor to have Chief Finch speak with us," said Tech. Sgt. Jeanne Perkins, 354th Force Support Squadron Airman Leadership School Instructor. "Coming from a PME background himself, he spoke to the staff and commandant about the importance of PME and how the teaching methodology has changed."

Airmen were able to ask questions in an open forum, their topics ranging from the physical training program past and present to his experience during September 11, 2001.

"My favorite part about meeting CMSAF Finch was hearing all the changes and some of the history the AF has gone through. It's not every day that you meet a former CMSAF and are able to ask questions regarding his career," said Senior Airman Benjamin Charest, 354th Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle maintainer.

Through different stories about his time in the Air Force, the retired chief inspired Airmen to pay attention to detail - stressing that everything you do in your career, no matter how small it may seem, is going to count.

"What the NCO Leadership School, and today the Airman Leadership School, is really about is impressing upon people that everything counts," said Chief Finch. "Your role as a first-level supervisor is to make sure things are done 100 percent correct. We rely typically on Senior Airmen and Staff Sergeants, the bulk of our enlisted force, to make sure that the job is done right - and that means that everything counts."

Chief Finch talked about an array of things, and made a lasting impression on the Airmen he talked with.

"We learned from the CMSAF that the sky is the limit for potential. He never dreamed one day he would be the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force and he was," said Sergeant Perkins.