CMSAF explores nuclear mission, encourages Airmen

by By Airman 1st Class Collin Schmidt
341st Missile Wing Public Affairs

3/12/2015 - MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont.  -- At the heart of America's national defense lies the nuclear triad, consisting of three elements: land, air and sea. Each of these components work together to provide the nation's most effective defense system and serves as one of the greatest protective powers the world has ever known.

On the land based leg of this triad is the Air Force Global Strike Command. Through this command, a home front based nuclear mission is continuously evolving to keep up with the demand of protecting the American people, while providing the best quality of life for its Airmen.

In an effort to explore this leg of the nuclear mission more in depth, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Cody has spent time at each installation within the command; speaking with Airmen and observing them perform their duties firsthand.

On a recent visit to Malmstrom Air Force Base, Cody toured several work centers and Missile Alert Facilities, viewing the effects of the Force Improvement Program implementation while experiencing life locally deployed in the missile field.

FIP was employed as a grass roots initiative to provide Airmen stationed at missile bases with a better quality of life and to deliver funding for tools and equipment.

He also spoke to Airmen on the enlisted force structure, education benefits, budget constraints and soon-to-be implemented programs that will provide a better Air Force for current and future Airmen.

"It's really important that what we're doing is the right thing to do," Cody said.

Putting the appropriate resources in the right areas is critical to getting things the way they are supposed to be, he said.

"We've instituted developmental special duties to make sure we're getting the right people, at the right time, in the right jobs that have a broader impact on the institution," Cody said. "We continue to move forward in evolving professional military education to deliver it in the right method to our Airmen at the right times in their careers."

According to Cody, every generation of Airmen has a responsibility to provide a better platform for future generations.

"I'm confident we're doing that, and in very meaningful ways," he said.

An honest assessment of where the Air Force lies is critical to developing a solid plan in moving forward, he believes. If a program does not work the first time, review it, redesign it and make the changes that will answer the problems we need to address.

Through tactical level feedback from Airmen and supervisors in the missile field, this assessment presents itself in a real form and reveals a better understanding of what works and what doesn't.

When it comes to the mission, excellence is achieved as a team. For the individual, striving to be the best Airman possible on a daily basis will contribute to the team reaching that goal.

"Just do your best every day," Cody said. "If you give your best every day and you work hard, on any given day you will be the best. On other days you won't and that's ok; you'll be celebrating the fact that somebody else is the best because they're your teammate."