CMSAF brings vision, recognizes excellence at 916th ARW

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Alan Abernethy
  • 916th Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Cody and his wife, retired Chief Master Sgt. Athena Cody, paid a visit to the 916th Air Refueling Wing, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, Oct. 10.

During the visit, the Air Force's top enlisted leader toured wing facilities, met with wing leadership, and reflected on the role Total Force Integration has played in the effectiveness of the Air Force.

"When you look at the last twenty plus years; how we've operationalized the Strategic Ready Reserve, we've had active-duty Airmen, Guard Airmen, Reserve Airmen, all working together," said Cody.

He emphasized that the seamless integration of these forces has been a key to success.

"We all know how to do our job and the great strength in our Air Force is when we bring those three military components and our civilian component together," he added. "That's really what makes us such a great Air Force."

While touring wing facilities, Cody also recognized outstanding performers and spoke with Airmen in the 916th ARW and its Total Force Associate partner, the 911th Air Refueling Squadron.

"I was not expecting him to come speak with me, one-on-one," said Airman 1st Class Savana Hopkins, 911th ARS, integrated flight controls specialist. "He and his wife were very open in sharing stories of their careers."

Hopkins said she was even more surprised when Cody sat down at her computer and began typing a bullet statement in the list of work accomplishments she was compiling.

"While we were talking, he added a bullet to my list that stated I had briefed the Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force on the duties and responsibilities of my career field," added Hopkins. "It was a once in a lifetime experience."

Hopkins was among several top-performing Airmen who were coined by Cody for excellent service to the 916th ARW.

"It was great to put our Airmen in front of the Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force and have him see, firsthand, how amazing they are," said Chief Master Sgt. James Loper, 916th ARW command chief. "This is a great wing and it was awesome to have the Chief with them, where they work."

Cody also took time to discuss future plans for the Air Force Reserve, stating that Secretary of the Air Force, Deborah Lee James, and Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Gen. Mark A. Welsh, have been conducting  an 80 percent review of all Air Force mission sets.

"We are looking at which mission sets may be better aligned to one of the Reserve components," said Cody. "Where it makes sense, we will move missions into the Reserve."

Determining the right level of readiness and manning is "the right thing to do for our nation and the right thing to do for our Air Force," he added.

Cody's visit to the 916th ARW was part of two-day stop at Seymour Johnson AFB. He also visited several units throughout the 4th Fighter Wing and the 567th Red Horse Squadron.