CMSAF Cody visits Air Commandos

by Airman 1st Class Jeff Parkinson
1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs

5/12/2014 - HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Cody visited Hurlburt Field, Fla., May 8 through 9.

During his visit, Cody held two all calls where he answered questions from Airmen and discussed a variety of topics including the Enlisted Evaluation System, promotion boards and force management. He also thanked Airmen for what they do to serve.

"Our Airmen are sacrificing every day; they step up to whatever their nation asks them to do," he said. "We are going through some significant fiscal challenges in our Air force, despite the fact we still have them engaged in direct combat operations. Our Airmen continually step up and do phenomenal work."

Cody also spoke about the changing landscape in the Air Force, and said soon the Air Force will be the smallest it has ever been.

"When I came into the Air Force we were just under 600,000 active-duty Airmen," he said. "[After] we go through force management this year and next year, we will be down in the range of 310,000 Airmen.

"That's pretty significant, especially when you think about what we're doing around the world," he added. "We're more engaged than we've ever been in the history of our military, and to be able to make that statement while being the smallest Air Force is pretty significant."

Despite all that's going on in the Air Force, Cody encouraged Airmen to remain strong.

"Do the best you can do every day," he said. "You may not be able to be the best all the time, but you got to keep trying."