MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D., -- Chief Master Sgt. Calvin Williams, command chief of Air Force Global Strike Command, toured Minot Air Force Base, March 9-10, 2017, to visit work centers and discuss significant topics with Airmen.
“This is a highlight for me,” Williams said. “I get to come here as my sixth base visit to talk with Airmen, but most importantly, I get to come as the guest speaker for this year’s Chief Induction Ceremony.”
Williams visited 10 different 5th Bomb Wing and 91st Missile Wing units on base, to include guard mount at the 5th Security Forces Squadron armory and on-the-job training at the 91st MW headquarters building.
“To me the most important thing is being able to come out and just talk to Airmen and hear their concerns,” Williams said.
At a Team Minot enlisted all-call, Williams spoke to Airmen about the mission, family, force distribution and potential controlled tours for defenders, mirroring discussions from a recent visit by the previous Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James.
“When it comes to remote assignments, family separation and deployment, our families make a sacrifice just as we do,” Williams said. “One thing is guaranteed to us as enlisted members; a job. My wife has dropped everything and picked up a new job after every [permanent change of station] and my oldest son went through four different high schools; it is the ultimate sacrifice.”
Prior Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James visited here recently and listened to concerns and played a major role in improvements on behalf of Minot AFB, Williams added.
Staff Sgt. Andrew Lintelman, 91st Security Support Squadron security forces trainer, was eager to hear about these possible changes to his career field.
“Controlled tours are a great concept to increase retainability across the Air Force,” Lintelman said. “In my seven year experience here, I have seen a lot of Airmen separate from the military from lack of orders. I think more Airmen would re-enlist if they had a better idea that they will get orders to another installation.”
Controlled tours will not only increase the retainability across the Air Force, but it will improve quality of life for Airmen and their families.
“It will give families a better timeline of how long they will be stationed somewhere,” Lintelman said. “When trying to figure out housing arrangements, a tour like that would make it easier to decide whether to rent on base or potentially move downtown into your own home.”
As Williams discussed his near 30-year career coming to an end, he exclaimed his appreciation of being the guest speaker for the induction ceremony.
“As I transition out of my career, I look at the new group of chiefs coming up and I see they’re super smart and more in-touch and in tune with their Airmen, and to me, that’s the best part of growing and developing as a chief,” Williams said.
At the beginning and end of his all-call, Williams reiterated his appreciation to Airmen.
“I’ll start and end this the same way -- thank you for all you do for our great Air Force.”