PACAF command chief outlines priorities to Kadena Airmen

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Kenya Shiloh
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  The Pacific Air Force Command Chief, Chief Master Sgt. Brooke McLean, stopped at Kadena Air Base to visit the enlisted force Feb. 9-12 while on a multi-base tour of the Pacific region, his first since taking the reigns as the command's top enlisted leader.

During his visit, the command chief visited various units on base, spoke with Airmen and gained a better understanding of the Kadena mission. He was also the guest speaker at the Feb. 11 graduation ceremony for the Erwin Professional Military Education Center NCO Academy Class 10-2.

In an interview, Chief McLean highlighted some of his main priorities, which include posturing the force, providing combat capability and security sustainment in the Pacific region, and taking care of Airmen and their families.

Two of the hottest issues he addressed are the recent changes in high-year tenure and the new centralized physical fitness testing and standards.
"In addition to having the impact of the high-year tenure, we're having to deconflict the changes with our DEROS management policy," Chief McLean said. "We have to work with commanders, first sergeants and chiefs to ensure the individuals who are in unique situations have the opportunity to test again and get promoted. If they don't get promoted [we need] to ensure they have a smooth transition out."

The command chief said part of that smooth transition is to make sure that the command doesn't lose continuity and remains capable of executing the mission. He said NCOs and Senior NCOs are responsible for training their replacements and that leaders will always have that challenge.
Even with the new changes in high-year tenure, Airmen still have to fulfill their combat roles. With that comes the added pressure of balancing the demands of the high operations tempo at home station and taking care of their families. Chief McLean said he knows keeping that balance can be very challenging at times, but that's what makes service members unique.

"We get to do something very few people get to do in our nation and that's defend it," he said. "We get to put on a uniform and be actively involved in making sure the nation is protected and its citizens are able to enjoy freedom."

However, he warns that people should remind themselves why they serve in the Air Force and look past the medical care and education opportunities and ask themselves if they're making a difference.

"The work we do can't be done by anybody; it takes a special breed," he said.

Physical fitness is another area Airmen have to be proficient in to meet deployment demands. The command chief says PACAF is ahead of the game. After speaking with Airmen across the command, the chief believes that the requirements are understood and that Airmen have received adequate time to prepare; when the new standards take effect in July, there shouldn't be any surprises.

"Being ahead of the rest of the Air Force with centralized PT testing has given us a big advantage," he said. "Commanders are making things happen at the lowest level and helping to ensure people are meeting standards."

That said, he says that there are a few kinks that still have to be worked out.

"We're still working through some of the challenges of testing outdoors twice a year," the chief said. "Some of our locations in Alaska and northern Japan receive an incredible amount of snow, so for them to test outdoors is difficult."

Meeting the new PT standards and staying combat ready is crucial in the Air Force and takes a special breed of people to meet that goal. Chief McLean says that Kadena Airmen are among that breed.

"Kadena has a very strong sense of community," Chief McLean said. "It's a level of depth that you don't have at many other bases."