Legendary enlisted leader departs: Altus bids farewell to command chief

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Eugene Bird
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
ALTUS AFB, Okla. --  Chief Master Sgt. Thomas Narofsky, the 97th Air Mobility Wing command chief says he is prepared to depart for Ali Al Salem AB, Kuwait next week. As the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing Command chief, he will travel regularly visiting Airmen at bases sprawled across Kuwait and Southern Iraq. 

He has been selected to lead an Air Force enlisted corps that has a diverse mission that not only includes intratheater airlift and casualty evacuation, but also a wide variety of traditional Army missions such as detainee control, combat support services and convoy operations. 

This new assignment is a big transition for the Narofsky family. "We're an Air Force family. My family and I have been separated twice before, but this time it'll be for one year instead of a four month deployment. We've prepared as much as a family can." said Chief Narofsky. 

Chief Narofsky leaves a legacy that includes the establishment of the Warrior Professional Development Center, monthly leadership training for the enlisted corps and installing a warrior ethos in the minds of Altus enlisted leaders.

Warriors 

"Leadership is why Altus Air Force Base is pushing the envelope. I don't want to say we're 'ahead of the Air Force,' but our Airmen are more intone with Air Force doctrine," he said. "Our wing's leadership has been a driving force in warrior professional development and the SNOCs are making it happen. 

This is going to be a long war. Some call it the Second Hundred Years Ware or World War III. Some call what we are up against fourth generation warfare, where terrorists use the concepts of mass and maneuver in a fundamentally different way. By utilizing technological advances, there's no need to have a massive army to posture against another massive army. Through the use of networks, cell phones and satellite radios, one can execute warfare in a decentralized manner with devastating effects," he said.
 
"September 11, 2001 was a prime example. The Pentagon, World Trade Center and Flight 93 were attacked simultaneously. Asymmetrical warfare is what we have to prepare our next generation Airmen for - fighting small networked terrorist cells and not super power armies, everywhere at the same time. We listened to the troops coming back from the desert saying, "We're not prepared for this. Here's what's happening out there.' That's how the battlefield deployment course came about," said Chief Narofsky.

Importance of first sergeants, chiefs 

"We have to meet not only our own leadership challenges, but develop the leadership capability of those around us. Everything that happens on the base - standards, discipline, and recognition - really is the mission of the first sergeants, chiefs, and commanders. The biggest leadership trait an NCO must have is caring about people. We are in a people business. If you think of people as an object, you're in the wrong business. You have to deal with peoples' tragedies, successes and job issues. It's a big job to be a first sergeant, chief or a commander," said the enlisted leader.

Improvements for Airmen, families 

His wife, Dorene Narofsky, administrative assistant to the Medical Group commander, earned chief's admiration for creating an enlisted spouses social club that regularly meets for social activities in spite of holding a full time position, he said. One of the club's greatest accomplishments was raising over $8K over 2 years of participating in the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life. 

Building new kitchens for the dormitories was a major project with a lot of selfless participation the chief said he will remember. "After presenting the self help kitchen project in building 213 to General William Looney III, the base received $78,000 to build three more. The Airmen really enjoy it wand will benefit greatly from the new kitchen, said Chief Narofsky.

People make Altus memorable
I'll definitely remember and miss the people. Altus is a great base and our Airmen are world class. People don't realize how great it is because they come with a perception that Altus is a little base in Southwest Oklahoma that they've never heard of, so they've formed an opinion before they ever get here. What they need to know is that at Altus it's all about the people." 

"The community leaders, Committee of 100, the Military Affairs Committee - they love to have the military here. They make us an integral part of the community. [97th Air Mobility Wing commander] Col. [Carlton] Everhart II has said, 'When you talk about the community of Altus, you talk about the base. When you talk about the base, you talk about the community of Altus.' We're a synergistic team. We fight for the freedoms of the community, and I think people here are more aware of that than those of the big city. Altus sons and daughters are joining the armed forces. They are a part of us," he said.