New chief selects attend AFGSC orientation

by Airman 1st Class Joseph A. Pagán Jr.
AFGSC Public Affairs

2/1/2013 - BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Chief master sergeant selects from Air Force Global Strike Command bases and units attended a 4-day orientation course this week at Barksdale AFB.

The course was intended to teach the chief's tools to help them lead at the top level of the Air Force enlisted rank.

"As a chief master sergeant, especially the new chiefs, we have to continue to develop," said Chief Master Sgt. Brian Hornback, AFGSC Command Chief. "There are tools they will need to lead at the highest level of enlisted rank."

The 31 chief selects in attendance learned the importance of not only being a chief from an AF level but also from a command level.

"It is important we teach them about our MAJCOM because we have certain expectations of our chiefs," said Hornback. Each MAJCOM has a different focus and he said there is "a special trust and responsibility" within this command.

The orientation replaces the Chiefs Leadership Course, formerly taught at Maxwell AFB, Ala.

"The challenge was having the funding to get all the chief selects in the AF together," said Hornback. "Soon, chiefs coming up will be able to get an orientation from both their MAJCOM and a big AF institution."

He added when he attended the Chief Leadership Course they mainly focused on why chiefs were important to the AF and not enough about the MAJCOM they were working for.

Senior Master Sgt. Ray Lapham, 2nd Maintenance Group Weapons Manager, an attendee and chief select, he said he believed the course at AFGSC would teach him about his responsibility within his MAJCOM as opposed to being with chiefs from another command.

"It has been a great opportunity to be here with peers and with chiefs who have a lot of experience," said Lapham. "I've learned about our roles for AFGSC and what it takes to make what you do a little bit better for the lives of your people both professionally and personally."

Senior Master Sgt. Brian Cerney, 28th Comptroller Squadron superintendent, Ellsworth AFB, is a chief master sergeant select who is moving to the AFGSC headquarters in February.

"Since I'm coming into Global Strike, having the opportunity to gain a better understanding of the nuclear enterprise and the leaders within the command has been invaluable," he said.

This year, there were 1,981 senior master sergeants eligible for promotion. Only about 1 percent of the enlisted force achieves the rank of chief master sergeant.