Top Enlisted Airman thanks Tyndall during visit

by Airman 1st Class Alex Echols
325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

10/10/2014 - TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla.  -- Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody and his wife, retired Chief Master Sgt. Athena Cody, visited here Oct. 7 and 8 to say thank you and provide a senior enlisted perspective to Airmen's questions ranging from promotions to performance reports.

"The purpose for Athena and I's visit was to thank the men and women of Team Tyndall for what they do every day and to make ourselves available to them to answer questions," Cody said. "We have a lot going on in our Air Force, and I think it's important, as does all of our senior leadership, to make ourselves available whenever we can. The views and insights of our Airmen are very important and clearly shape our perspective on the decisions we make as an Air Force."

While here, Cody held two-all calls to discuss issues Airmen are facing and to show his gratitude to the men and women that serve at Tyndall.

Among the topics discussed were Career Development Courses, professional military education and a heavy emphasis on the new Enlisted Performance Reports and the Weighted Airman Promotion System.

"We need an evaluation system that will drive meaningful, purposeful conversations with our Airmen to clearly establish the expectations for them, talk about their opportunities and ensure that we're doing our best to help them meet their full potential," he said. "The new system is going to value performance first and foremost."

The adjustment to the values of performance in the point's structure will drive a change in the WAPS, said Cody.

"The idea is not that we will promote different people," he said. "Over time we will promote the same people, but the order in which we promote will change when we make performance the heaviest weighted factor that it has always been designed to be."

After the all calls, Cody and his wife stayed behind to meet with Team Tyndall's Airmen one-on-one to shake their hands, thank them for their service and answer any personal questions they might have.

"He was very straight forward when it came to answering people's questions," said Airman 1st Class Deseree Spaide, 325th Communications Squadron Official Mail Center technician. "I feel pretty lucky that I had the opportunity to meet someone that is important to us all. Hearing all the different things he's done in his career makes me excited and proud to wear this uniform."

The Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force also toured the base visiting Tyndall's Airmen in their work centers.

"The base is excellent," said Cody. "Both Athena and I are continually inspired by our Airmen in their work ethic, their professionalism and their exceptional attitude toward the mission. We saw a lot of motivated Airmen, a lot of great people doing great work here."