Eight CMSAF visits USSTRATCOM, speaks to Airmen Published April 23, 2008 By Master Sgt. Kevin Allen U.S. Strategic Command Public Affairs OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. -- Retired Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Sam Parish visited United States Strategic Command April 3, bringing with him a message of change, values, desire and heritage. Chief Parish, the eighth of 15 chief master sergeants to hold the highest Air Force enlisted position, spoke to more than 150 Airmen in the USSTRATCOM Theater for about 40 minutes during his visit. The chief got the afternoon crowd going by relating a story of his first trip to the building in 1981, where he interviewed to work as the then-Strategic Air Command's senior enlisted advisor. He spoke of changes in the layout of the building and how we do business, and then brought his thoughts together with common themes from then and now - people and money. "The command then was much like the Air Force is now, short of specialists and lacking in money," Chief Parish said. The chief emphasized that for the Air Force, while the 22 years since he retired have been both similar and different than when he served, one thing has definitely improved - the quality of the people joining the service. He assured the Airmen in attendance they are "getting the best group of Airmen in the entire history of the Air Force." He based that on the knowledge that he's seen every generation of Airmen entering the Air Force since it became an independent service branch in 1947. Chief Parish also spoke of values, and why people join the service, saying that it's not important to know why people join. The focus should be on the oath they take, which means allegiance to the nation. "We can't pay Airmen properly for what they do... the country would go bankrupt, " he said, sending a message that there's more value to our profession than there is pay. "But if you ask around not many Airmen would tell you they joined for the money," the chief added. They join because they value service. Adding to those comments, the chief addressed training and educating our newest Airmen properly, because they are our future. He said he hears stories about how "there's not time for proper feedback," and cautioned those in attendance not to fall into that trap. The importance, he said, lies in preparing our replacements to continue the task we've undertaken - protecting America and freedom worldwide. The chief's time ended with a question and answer session, in which he addressed topics ranging from uniform policies to the latest Air Force slogans to defending cyberspace. In answering all, Chief Parish reminded the audience of heritage, and how our young service is facing challenges not previously seen by our predecessors. "Look at our 60 years, then ask yourself, 'Where were the Army, Navy and Marines when they were only 60 years old?'" the chief said. Times may have changed since our sister service branches were 60, and the battles being fought are of a different nature, but "for many of your lifetimes, we will still be fighting terrorism... it's not something that's going away any time soon. "Our job is to fly, fight and win, and support those who do."