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Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody pose for a photo with Senior Airman Wilon Nurse, 496th Air Base Squadron security forces flight member, after an all-call Dec. 8 on Morón Air Base, Spain. Welsh and Cody visited Morón to engage with Airmen of the squadron. During the visit, they thanked Airmen for their dedication to the mission and personal sacrifices. The leaders also made time to discuss and answer questions about recent changes to performance reporting systems and how they will affect future promotions.
Morón AIR BASE, Spain — Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody hosted an all-call Dec. 8 on Morón Air Base, Spain.
Welsh and Cody visited the air base to engage with Airmen of the 496th Air Base Squadron, part of the 86th Operations Group, and thank them for their efforts in providing combat expeditionary support at Morón as well as to discuss the new changes across the Air Force.
“Thank you for everything you do,” Welsh said. “From the time you’ve spent away from your families to the things you are doing for the nation here, the things you are doing for each other, and the care you are taking for all of the people you support who come through here and Rota — thank you.
“You have no idea how proud we are of you,” Welsh added.
In addition to thanking those who support the joint mission at Morón, both leaders explained the importance of knowing your wingmen and how that affects mission readiness.
“Look around your unit,” Welsh said. “Be the person that brings people together. You be the person that asks everybody’s opinion. You be the one who wants to know what they think, how they feel, and what they contribute. Make sure their voices are heard.”
Cody expanded on that thought by communicating the value of connecting with Airmen in the work place.
“It is a family business,” Cody said. “I ask that you spend time getting to know each other’s stories. You have to be able to look into someone’s eyes and know whether or not they’re having a bad day.”
Cody also expressed that connecting with people could also lessen the frequency of sexual assault, suicides and other negative behaviors.
The leaders then discussed the changes to the enlisted evaluation system and the requirement for open and honest feedback.
According to Welsh, many Airmen were not receiving performance feedback before the new changes.
“This is a performance-based organization,” Welsh said.
Welsh also explained that the top performers were often being overlooked with the old performance reporting. Conversely, the new system will allow leaders to quickly identify those top performers and give them an advantage towards promotion.
According to Capt. Justin Schneider, 496th Air Base Squadron contracting flight commander, the visit was much appreciated by Airmen at Morón.
“The biggest takeaway from the visit for me was hearing we have the power to make change,” Schneider said. “Both Chief Cody and General Welsh reiterated how our suggestions for change are heard and often implemented. We, as Airmen and future leaders in the Air Force, don’t have to keep doing things the way they have always been done. We should do what makes sense, which allows us to return the focus to the things that matter the most, including taking care of our families, each other and ourselves.”
With innovative Airmen stepping up to make necessary changes in the Air Force, a stronger future will be built, Schneider added.
Airmen from the 496th Air Base Squadron at Morón Air Base, Spain, listen to Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III and Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody during an all-call Dec. 8.
