19 AF chief provides insight on AF topics

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Clinton Atkins
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Command Chief Master Sgt. Robert Tappana, 19th Air Force command chief, provided insight on recent Air Force topics during an enlisted call Nov. 14 at the Freedom Community Center on base. 

Chief Tappana covered topics such as change in the Air Force, standards and discipline, and family all the while reminding Airmen he works for them. 

The top enlisted member in the 19th Air Force said that there are currently a lot of changes taking place in the Air Force. "Our world is changing and we have to make sure we are changing with it," he said. 

"Right now specifically, we are looking at how to reorganize ourselves and the work that we do so we can afford to modernize [the Air Force fleet]," the chief said. 

In order to modernize the fleet, the Air Force is reducing its personnel by 40,000, "So we now have to look at our processes so we can figure out how to adjust them so we can get everything that we need to get done accomplished with fewer people. Most importantly, we must look at all our processes, eliminate those that are not necessary and streamline those that are," Chief Tappana said. "It's just a matter of making sure we are shaped right for the future." 

Chief Tappana said that the Air Force is great today, but the Air Force has an obligation to ensure that tomorrow's Air Force is even better for the Airmen of the future. 

"We need to continue educating ourselves to make sure we are informed and smart about what is going on and use AFSO 21 to become more effective. If we can use AFSO 21 to save us time and money that allows us to do more without taking more money out of the budget," he said. 

Chief Tappana also spoke about the importance of standards and discipline. 

"Please take standards and discipline seriously," Chief Tappana said. "Our country expects it of us and I think we have to follow through. Every time you ignore a standards and discipline violation you set a new standard and it's lower than the old one. Our Air Force and our nation deserve our best." 

Though the chief asked the Airmen to make standards and discipline a top priority in their lives, he also said it does not mean they shouldn't be taking care of their families. 

"Being an Air Force professional means you take care of your family and to take care of your family you have to make sure you make time for them. Special events like recitals, school plays and ball games only happen once; you should be there if you can," Chief Tappana said. 

The chief also said that NCOs and supervisors have a responsibility to permit their subordinates to attend important family events whenever possible. 

"We owe our families the same level of support we give to the Air Force," Chief Tappana said. 

Even though the Air Force's 12 percent reduction in force has caused operations tempo and the pressure on Airmen and their families are increasing, Chief Tappana believes the Air Force as a whole needs to work smarter. 

"We have to continually keep looking at how we can help the Air Force make the changes it needs to make, and a lot of that has to do with educating ourselves and making sure that we are aware of current issues and new processes," he said. 

"We have to be looking at what we can do without, what we can do better and what we can do smarter," Chief Tappana said, noting that a large part of his job is helping people do just that. 

"I work for you," Chief Tappana said. "I report to General Halter (Maj. Gen. Irving Halter, 19 AF commander), but I work for you. My job is to try to figure out how I can help make things work more smoothly. I do this job because it allows me to take care of enlisted Airmen and help people get things done."