Former CMSAF defines importance of resiliency

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jessica McConnell
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  The eighth Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, Sam E. Parish, visited Team Minot to speak at the Chief's Recognition Ceremony and Airman Leadership School graduating class here Feb. 21 - 23.

While Parish was here, he also took time out to speak with Airmen about hot-topic issues in the Air Force.

The chief took a vested interest in the topic of resiliency, which he said boils down to supervision.

"I think the most important part of resiliency is first line supervisors," he said. "If Airmen enjoy their jobs, and they have a supervisor that they enjoy being around, then Airmen are more likely to have a more positive experience."

The chief went on to explain that resiliency goes both ways. He said Airmen must also respect their supervisors for providing guidance, leadership, training and development for their future.

"With a positive attitude about one's supervisor, leadership, and coworkers, Airmen are more likely to have a better experience with their Air Force family - this is what resiliency is."

Parish acknowledged the more difficult pressure Airmen deal with at this nuclear-capable base, but believes the Airmen here are more resilient for it.

"This base has the harder mission," he said. "However, when the going gets tough, the tough get going. That's how it is here. It's unbelievably tough here, and it can't be handled without discipline. This base has one of the most important missions, if not the most important, and that's the nuclear deterrence mission. This is where the Air Force family steps in."

While Minot has a uniquely difficult mission, Parish said this base has something to offer that many other bases do not.

"There are some unbelievable things that exist here in this area, and one of those things is the family environment here at Minot," said Parish. "There's a togetherness and an Air Force family affair up here that probably only exists in other places that are also isolated from other big cities."

Parish offered some advice on how Airmen can enjoy their time at this base, and any other installation their Air Force careers may take them.

"Quit worrying about what you're doing and what you need to do," he said. "Just concentrate on being the best that you can be at what you're doing. I think that if you do that, the great Air Force will continue to take care of our Airmen."