CMSAF visits Ramstein, addresses Airmen’s concerns

Story and photo by Airman 1st Class Larissa Greatwood 86th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody meets with Airmen during an all-call June 15 on Ramstein. Cody answered Airmen’s questions regarding Air Force standards, new processes and entitlements.
Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody meets with Airmen during an all-call June 15 on Ramstein. Cody answered Airmen’s questions regarding Air Force standards, new processes and entitlements.

Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody met with Airmen and addressed their concerns regarding the future of the Air Force during an all-call June 15 on Ramstein.

Airmen had the opportunity to spend the entirety of the all-call asking questions about issues ranging from entitlements and reducing the force to enlisted professional military education.

An Airman asked Cody what his thoughts are on the new NCO Academy format. All future NCOA courses will be a combination of distance and in-residence learning as opposed to in-residence only, as done before.

Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody meets with Airmen during an all-call June 15 on Ramstein. Cody answered Airmen’s questions regarding Air Force standards, new processes and entitlements.Photo by Airman 1st Class Larissa Greatwood<br>Ramstein leaders listen as Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody interacts with Airmen during an all-call June 15 on Ramstein. Airmen had the opportunity to ask Cody questions regarding their concerns of future Air Force processes.Photo by Airman 1st Class Larissa Greatwood<br>An Airman asks Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody a question during an all-call June 15 in Ramstein's Hangar 3. Photo by Airman 1st Class Larissa Greatwood<br>Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody talks to the audience in Hangar 3 during an all-call June 15 on Ramstein.  Cody answered Airmen’s questions regarding Air Force standards, new processes and entitlements.Photo by Airman 1st Class Tryphena Mayhugh<br>Brig. Gen. Patrick X. Mordente, 86th Airlift Wing commander, demonstrates to Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody the different aspects of Ramstein Air Base from the control tower June 15. An all-call with Cody was held during his visit to give Airmen an opportunity to ask him questions about Air Force policies.Photo by Airman 1st Class Tryphena Mayhugh<br>Staff Sgt. Rosy Fernandez, 86th Medical Group respiratory therapist, demonstrates to Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody how an injured military member receives care during an air rescue operation June 15 on Ramstein. During his visit, Cody held an all-call for Airmen, spoke to senior NCOs and had a tour of Ramstein.Photo by Airman 1st Class Tryphena Mayhugh<br>Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody speaks with Airmen from the 86th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron June 15 during a tour of Ramstein Air Base. Before the tour, Cody asked each squadron he was going to visit to select an Airman they believed went above and beyond their duties, and he presented those individuals with a coin.

“We’re not going to a completely distance learning environment,” said Cody. “What we’re really doing is updating and evolving the way we educate the force. There’s a proven methodology that most education, if not the vast majority, has adopted blended-learning. There isn’t a lot to be gained in an in-residence domain with an instructor standing at a podium. Over a five-year period, every Airman will have the opportunity to go to an in-residence experience where instead of having an instructor sitting at a podium, there will be an instructor guiding facilitated discussions. It raises the bar significantly.”

When asked what advice he would give Airmen who want to achieve the highest level of the enlisted tier (CMSgt), Cody emphasized the importance of taking things one day at a time.

“Life is complicated aside from what we do for air power,” said Cody. “So don’t complicate this. Just do your best every day. You’re not going to be the best every day but if you do your best, that’s all anyone can ask. That’s the best advice I can give. If you start thinking about being a [chief master sergeant] today, you’re going to miss everything along the way. Your goal might be to become a chief, just don’t miss what’s right in front of you.”

Cody concluded the all-call by thanking Airmen for their service and hard work.
“We can’t thank you enough for what you do every day, how hard you work and how well you execute the Air Force mission,” he said. “What you do globally is not lost on anybody in our Air Force. I ask you also extend that gratitude to your families whether they’re here or not. I don’t believe we could do this without the support and love of
our families.”