AFRC Command Chief visits 433rd, JBSA-Lackland

by Tech Sgt. Carlos J. Trevino

433 Airlift Wing Public Affairs

8/5/2014 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas --

"I will fight your fight," said the top enlisted leader in Air Force Reserve Command, during an enlisted call at the Bob Hope Theater here Aug. 3.

Command Chief Master Sgt. Chief Cameron Kirksey visited many of the squadrons at the 433rd Airlift Wing  July 31- to Aug. 3 to see what the concerns and needs were for "Alamo Wing" reservists.

"I felt it was very important to understand any community. You can only get so much through emails. I want to understand their issues. I want to recognize these Airmen for what they bring to the fight. I want them to know they have a voice," the former aerial porter said.

Part of his mission was to seek out better ways to train Airmen at Basic Military Training, and recruiting more Airmen into the special duty career field of the military training instructor.

In one of his first stops, he sought those answers from the most experienced military training instructors in the Air Force, the reservists of the 433rd Training Squadron. "I got to have your story. I am here for you. I take it to heart. Not just from an email standpoint," he said to the 21 MTIs assembled.

Kirksey, spent some quality time with the MTI force discussing the challenges and triumphs within the 8B000 Special Duty Identifier, said, Chief Master Sgt. Jesse Gomez, 433rd Training Flight superintendent. "They very much appreciated the opportunity to voice their concerns to an MAJCOM leader with affirmation that issues would be addressed accordingly."

The MTIs talked about the need for more instructors due to the large number of trainees.

"I don't have all the answers, but the men and women who are out here, doing this job day in and day out; have some creative ideas that I can take back and put on the plate for senior leadership. It is up to them to tell us whether that works," he said.

Friday of his visit, Kirksey, received a tour of the "BEAST," the Basic Expeditionary Airman Skills Training portion of Basic Training," on the Medina Annex at JB Lackland. Friday was the last day of the training and the Culmex (culmination) Ceremony. Kirksey was asked to address more than 500 hundred basic trainees. After his speech, Kirksey announced the winning zone, "Vigilant Zone," and pinned the "BEAST Excellence Streamer" on the zone's flag.

During his visit, Kirksey emphasized the importance of getting a degree from the Community College of the Air Force, teamwork and trust, and their important role in the nation's defense.

"Seventy-two single words, did you mean it, were they important," he asked referring to the Oath of Enlistment that every member of the United States Armed Forces recites upon joining.

"Less than one percent of the nation defends the cloth," he said, referring to the Constitution. "Take pride in knowing that you serve a great cause, and you do it in a very outstanding manner. We do it as part-timers every day," he said.