Senior Enlisted Advisor visits Malmstrom, ensures trust in mission

by Senior Airman Katrina Heikkinen
341st Missile Wing Public Affairs

1/24/2014 - MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan B. Battaglia, the senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, visited Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., Jan. 15 to 18 to meet with enlisted Airmen and their families, and Great Falls community members.

"As the most senior noncommissioned officer in the U.S. Armed Forces, he serves as the principle military advisor to the chairman and the secretary of defense on all matters concerning joint and combined total force integration utilization, health of the force and joint development for the enlisted personnel," said Staff Sgt. Kara Tank, 341st Missile Wing command chief assistant.

Battaglia spoke at an enlisted Airman's Call where he expressed his gratitude for the men and women of Malmstrom and ensured his trust in the nuclear deterrence mission.

"This trip to Malmstrom was extremely educational for me and I needed that, because I needed to learn more about what the nuclear community did and does," Battaglia said. "The reason for my visit here is more than just seeing Airmen and their families. . . I wanted to get out in the community and see the civic leaders out there, just to ensure there was some great activity between the community and the base, and there is."

During Battaglia's first visit to the base, he met Airmen in a variety of Air Force Specialty Codes and settings, including a breakfast with junior enlisted Airmen and nightshift workers at the Transportation Control Center, Command Post, Tactical Response Force, a missile alert facility, Guardmount and the base fire department.

According to Battaglia, properly preparing service members for the possibility of separating and maintaining civic leader engagement are major priorities.

"General Welsh came out with 25,000 Airmen that we're going to have to reshape the Air Force with," Battaglia said. "Don't think it's only you all - all five branches of the service are taking that hit and it is all for the reshaping. That's just the evolution of our military. That's the shelf life that we all have. At some point we're all going to separate or retire in some shape or form. We want to deliver you the best veteran or citizen that we can."

Although all branches of the service are undergoing major reductions in force, Battaglia took much away from his visit to Malmstrom.

"I'm happy to say that I believe in my assessment - the Airmen continue to remain focused on that very task and that is to maintain a safe, secure and effective nuclear force," Battaglia said. "I attained a very sincere appreciation for the Airmen. You start to ask them about their job, their roles and responsibilities, what they do here in the unit that they're assigned, and it only takes a matter of time until you can see the excitement in their voice. I believe they fully understand how important their role is here in the defense of our country."