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Fifth CMSAF visits Fairchild

Retired Chief Master Sgt. Robert Gaylor, Fifth Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, speaks to members of Team Fairchild during the Senior NCO Induction ceremony in Spokane, Wash., Aug. 16, 2013. Gaylor spoke about his time in the Air Force and emphasized the importance of the senior NCO’s. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ryan Zeski/Released)

Fifth CMSAF visits Fairchild

Retired Chief Master Sgt. Robert Gaylor, Fifth Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, speaks to members of Team Fairchild during an enlisted call at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., Aug. 16, 2013. During the enlisted call, Chief spoke on what he calls “the four T’s.” They stand for Training, Technology, Tribe and Trust. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ryan Zeski/Released)

Fifth CMSAF visits Fairchild

Retired Chief Master Sgt. Robert Gaylor, Fifth Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, speaks with Tech. Sgt. Robert Stinnett, 92nd Air Refueling Squadron boom operator, during the Senior NCO Induction ceremony in Spokane, Wash., Aug. 16, 2013. Gaylor spoke about his time in the Air Force and emphasized the importance of the senior NCO’s. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ryan Zeski/Released)

Fifth CMSAF visits Fairchild

Published Aug. 20, 2013
By Airman 1st Class Ryan Zeski
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- The fifth Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force visited Fairchild Air Force Base to speak with members of Team Fairchild during an enlisted call and at the Senior NCO induction ceremony in Spokane on August 17.

Retired Chief Master Sgt. Robert Gaylor, who served in the Air Force from 1948-1979, was the guest speaker for the event that inducted the newly promoted master sergeants. Gaylor spoke about his time in the Air Force and emphasized the importance of the senior NCO's.

"Putting on the rank of master sergeant is the initial introduction to the top three," said Gaylor. "This means you have to find out what is expected of you now, you can't keep doing the same thing."

Gaylor stated how important leadership is with this increased responsibility.

According to Gaylor, good leadership is the key to success. He compared the leadership of Airmen to how an orchestra operates.

"The Senior NCO's have to act as a conductor," said Gaylor. "They need to identify the talent and tell them when to play. That's what leadership is."

During the enlisted call, Gaylor spoke on what he called "the four T's." They stand for Training, Technology, Tribe or Family and Trust. He said these are the ways the Air Force has changed and improved since the 1950's.

"The training is better, our technology has improved greatly, we take better care of our family and Airmen now have a great deal of trust," said Gaylor.

"Being a military policeman, I wasn't even allowed to keep my badge at the end of the day, I had to check it in and out," said Gaylor. "I was allowed to guard multimillion dollar planes, but they didn't trust me. It didn't make sense then, and it still doesn't today. "

Speaking to Fairchild's newly inducted master sergeants, Gaylor told stories from his time in the Air Force. At times the stories were comical or sad but they always ended with a clear message. He would reach a crossroad in the story then ask the new Senior NCO's what they would have done in this situation and how they should take on ones they will cross in their future.