Former Air Force top NCO speaks to new chiefs

  • Published
  • By Luke Waack
  • JBER PAO
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  Retired Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Rodney J. McKinley paid a visit to Alaskan Command Air Force personnel here at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and Eielson Air Force Base, last week.

Each Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force serves as the personal adviser to the Chief of Staff and the Secretary of the Air Force on all issues regarding the welfare, readiness, morale and proper utilization and progress of the enlisted force.

McKinley is no stranger to Alaska; he served as the 11th Air Force command chief master sergeant from June 2004 to March 2005 and the Pacific Air Forces command chief from March 2005 to June 2006 and also visited Alaska in his tenure as Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force.

"I'm very happy to be back in Alaska to visit the 11th Air Force," McKinley said.
The 15th CMSAF received a special request to return to Alaska.

"My very good friend, Chief Master Sgt. Mike Warner, the 11th Air Force command chief called me up and asked me if I would come and speak at the Chiefs' Recognition ceremonies at both these bases," McKinley said.

As guest speaker at two Chiefs' Recognition ceremonies, McKinley talked to the 11th Air Force's newest chief master sergeant selects - three at Eielson and 12 at JBER - about the importance of their position as senior NCOs.

"This is a very special time in all these chief selects lives and also with their families because their families have done so much to also help get them here; it's a very special ceremony and I'm very honored to have an opportunity to be a part of it all," McKinley said.

In 1999, at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., McKinley was a chief select and he remembers the event very well, he said.

"It was very special," 
McKinley said.

McKinley said he saw improvements at both Alaska bases, since his tour here.

"I've seen a lot of changes at Eielson, great transformations there, all for the better," McKinley said.
 
"And here with the C-17s and also the F-22s and the joint basing; there have been some tremendous changes here - what a great place to be stationed."

Being a chief select requires a big increase in responsibility, he said.

"Becoming a chief master sergeant is life-changing, because forever you're going to be a chief," McKinley said. "There's a tremendous responsibility that goes with that."
It takes some time for a new chief to grasp the importance of what they've worked so hard to achieve, he said.

"It's going to take them a while to fully understand the responsibility that goes along with wearing those chief stripes and how much they can influence the mission and other peoples' lives," McKinley said.

"I think the responsibilities of the chief have pretty much (stayed) the same and that's really to take care of the mission and take care of the people," McKinley said.

Wherever he went during his most recent mission in Alaska, McKinley made time to speak not only with senior leaders but with everyday Airmen, asking and answering questions about their work and lives.

"It's a privilege to be back here in PACAF and 11th Air Force and Elmendorf and to have the opportunity to be around such great Airmen," McKinley said.

McKinley retired in 2009 and James A. Roy became the Air Force's present top noncommissioned officer.