Working for the Chief

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Christian Sullivan
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  A very select few who join the Air Force become a command chief master sergeant, in turn, so do few Airmen become a command chief's executive assistant.

For Staff Sgt. Malia Jenkins, 5th Bomb Wing command chief executive assistant, doing something that not many others accomplish is already second nature to her.

Jenkins made Senior Airman Below the Zone and after testing for the first time, staff sergeant.

"I applied to better myself and grow as a sergeant," Jenkins said. "When I saw the tasking go out that he needed a new assistant, I figured what a better way for me to grow as a sergeant and to grow in the Air Force than to work under the command chief."

Becoming the Chief's executive assistant was no easy task, not that either of her prior accomplishments were, however, this time she would be facing only one competitor, and they were not on equal playing fields.

"An e-mail was sent out for the job requesting either a staff sergeant or technical sergeant with certain criteria," Jenkins said. "To apply, I submitted my résumé and biography, and after all the applicants put their names in, I went through the interview process. After the interview, I thought the other individual got the job because he was a more experienced technical sergeant, and I heard his biography and accomplishments were amazing. He had all kinds of awards and was Outstanding Airman of the Year."

After almost a year of being the executive assistant for Command Chief Master Sgt. Geoff Weimer, 5th Bomb Wing command chief, Jenkins still does not know what put her above the competition and got her the job.

"Chief said he had his reasons," Jenkins said. "I could speculate and say it could be this or that, but I think maybe he saw something he wanted in the position that I could provide, so I thank him for that."

Jenkins said working under a command chief can teach you things that not many jobs in the Air Force can.

"Not many people can say they've made that rank, being the one percent of the one percent that join the military," Jenkins said.

She added that a day as a command chief executive varies from day-to-day.

"I don't really have a normal day; every day is different," Jenkins said. "I deal with his calendar, taskers from high headquarters, annual/quarterly awards and review packages for him. My day-to-day really is never the same."

Jenkins has one word that she would use to describe the experience of working with Chief Weimer.

"Awesome, that's the best way I could put it," Jenkins said with a big smile on her face. "He's been amazing since the beginning. He's been patient with me while I learned the job, even on those days where I'm stressed out and want to freak out; he helps me through it."

The driving factor that made Jenkins apply for the job is the same thing she refers to as her favorite thing about it.

"The knowledge, I learn something new every day," she said reflecting on the things she's learned so far. "Whether it's how to do memos or process a package. Each person I work with, Ms. Julie, the CCA office and the protocol office, has their own unique perspective and skill sets. They've taught me to think outside the box and like Chief would when I need to. It's opened up my thought process."

Of all the things her job has taught her, Jenkins said there is one specific virtue that sticks out to her.

"Patience definitely," Jenkins said. "He always tells me that you have to sit back and think before you respond to something. If you wait on something, you might be able to have a better response or approach than if you do it immediately.  He's taught me to choose the best path to do something instead of always choosing just one way to do things."