Travis recognizes new chief master sergeants

  • Published
  • By Ellen Hatfield
  • 349th Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  In a speech laced with down home Southern humor, Air Mobility Command's Command Chief Master Sgt. Victoria Gamble gave Travis Air Force Base's newest chiefs her charter for leading and inspiring their Airmen Jan. 23 at Travis.

The Chiefs Recognition Ceremony was an event charged with excitement, family and peer celebration. Speaking with a combination of humor and wisdom borne from years of experience guiding young Airmen, Gamble sought to energize the inductees to follow her example.

"You'll never forget when you were notified you were going to be a chief master sergeant," she said.

She had an amusing anecdote from her memory and meaningful ones for her key messages, delivered with sincerity.

Number one: "Your only job in life as a chief is to help your Airmen make great decisions," she said.

She told them to encourage their Airmen to live their dreams, to know the steps they needed to take to realize them, take the timeto listen, advise and help them make good decisions.

Number two: Live a balanced life. A poignant  anecdote about her son and the importance of family first, illustrated that.

"Remember them. When you're done with this journey and you've helped your Airmen all you can, those people will still be there, but only if you've lived a balanced life," she said.

Number three: You should be having fun. If you're around for the long haul and you don't have fun and a sense of humor, the people you serve with aren't going to want to be around you.

"Airmen don't work hard because they're disciplined," she said. "They do because to them solving problems, and defending our nation is fun. Working within this great Air
Force culture is fun."

Finally, using Aesop's Fables to illustrate, she told the chiefs "don't get too big for your britches." You want Airmen and people around you who will be truthful with you. Be transparent in your dealings with them. Let them see you for who you truly are.

A symbolic nine-candle lighting, performed by Airmen from the rank of airman basic through chief master sergeant, led to the formal induction of the group of nine chiefs.

Chiefs inducted were: Jamie Auger, 571st Contingency Response Group, Mark Brown, 349th Security Forces Squadron, Scott Bryant, 55th Aerial Port Squadron, Aretha Chandler, 349th Force Support Squadron, Randy Kay II, 6th Air Refueling Squadron, Matilda Mahone, 60th Medical Diagnostics & TherapeuticsSquadron, Darren Thews, 349th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Michael Thomas, 21st Airlift Squadron, and Vanessa Trujillo, 60th Air Mobility Wing. Unable to attend was Chief Master Sgt. Angelo Plaza, 60th MDTS.

The West Point cadet maxim could embody chief master sergeants. "Risk more than others think is safe. Care more than others think is wise. Dream more than others think is practical. Expect more than others think is possible."