Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff hears out Airmen

  • Published
  • By Fred W. Baker III
  • American Forces Press Service
MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff addressed more than 1,000 Airmen last week during an all-call held in Hanger 9 here.

Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, on a tour of western-U.S. military bases, walked on stage and stood before the crowd in a green flight suit with a Joint Chiefs patch on his chest. As the military's top officer, he was here to listen to, and take back to the D.C. beltway, the questions and concerns of the Airmen.

Admiral Mullen did not stand on the elevated podium above the crowd. Instead, after he was introduced, he walked down to the hangar floor and asked that all those standing in the back come to the front and sit down on the floor. It left him, a career Navy man, surrounded by a sea of Airmen.

For an hour the chairman fielded questions from the group on topics ranging from pay to politics. He thanked the Airmen for their service and remarked on the importance of a robust airlift mission, highlighting the C-17 as a primary player in the sustainment of our current operations. He challenged the crowd to lead. He prodded them to up their standards.

For the first time since Admiral Mullen began touring the world talking to troops, the increasing cost of gas is popping up on their list of concerns - it was no different at McChord as one of its own raised the topic with the chairman.

Mullen called the rising cost of fuel a "significant fiscal challenge" for both operational and personal needs. He praised the Air Force today for leading the way in weaning itself off of fuel.

The chairman said that all leaders need to be thinking about how to operate more efficiently, conducting the same operations with less gas "and not just assume it's always going to be there."

He said leaders need to plan operations, transportation and family care, and manage them in a more efficient way.

As the crowd continued to raise concerns during the open forum, one question, from a senior noncommissioned officer, cut to the heart of the chairman's message he has carried from Air Force to Marine base to Army post throughout his four-day trip.

"What is on your short list to make this great military better," the NCO asked.

"I don't have any short lists," Admiral Mullen joked.

After some laughter the chairman responded, "My shortest list is one.

"People," he said.

"It gets to the heart and soul that is really you setting in this hangar -- because we can't do it without you."

Admiral Mullen, a Vietnam War veteran, said he remembers the military when it was not the all-volunteer force it is today. He regularly calls the military now the best in the history, and the world.

But today's military is based on the quality of the volunteer, he said. Recruiting, retention, pay, promotions, families -- all demand his attention.

"I spend probably sometimes more of my time on these than others might like me to do," Admiral Mullen said.

Admiral Mullen said making sure the force is robust and supported, and allowing for career advancement, training and education are critical to taking care of troops.

And leaders must take care of families, he added.

(62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs contributed to this article. To read more on the admiral's visit, go to http://www.defenselink.mil)