Air Force Working to Combat Stressors
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Sept. 17, 2004 -- The global war on terrorism is placing many
stresses on the U.S. Air Force, but the servicemembers are responding well to
those stresses and the leadership is working to alleviate them.
Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Gerald R. Murray -- the service's highest-
ranking enlisted person -- said there are more than 29,000 airmen deployed
around the world today.
Air Force productivity rates are the highest they have ever been, the chief
said in a Pentagon Channel and American Forces Press Service interview for the
Air Force's 57th birthday on Sept. 18.
Yet, stress happens. The Air Force is a critical member of the joint military
team, Murray said. In addition to the normal stresses of maintaining aircraft
and all the other operations entailed in arming them, manning them and putting
them in the air, the United States is at war. Aircrews are facing the enemy in
Southwest Asia. Other aircrews are hauling critical supplies to the war fronts.
Still other aircrews are maintaining vigilance in the homeland.
The Air Force is also working as a member of the joint military team in many
non-traditional ways, Murray said. More than 2,000 airmen, for example, are
working in Army taskings in Southwest Asia. Air Force truck drivers and
military police are convoying supplies into Iraq. Air Force engineers are
working hand-in-glove with their Army and Navy compatriots. And air operations
around the world are not only completely joint, but are also flown with allies.
These missions not only place stresses on the airmen involved, but also the
families at home. Air Force leaders are working to stay ahead of any problems
the stressors might create.
Other changes that also cause stress are more mundane. The Air Force is
fielding a new uniform. The service is changing its physical-training
requirements. And the Air Force is shaping itself as it faces the new
challenges of the 21st century. "As we change our culture, that creates some
stress in our force today," Murray said.
The Air Force is trimming down and reshaping the force. Some airmen have to
retrain into other Air Force specialties in order to stay in the service.
"There's some unpredictability out there," Murray said. "Those all contribute
to the stress today that has given us some indicators, like an increased
suicide rate, that has us alarmed."
The Air Force is confronting these stressors head on. Murray said that "face-
to-face leadership" by young sergeants is key to helping airmen. "This
operations tempo is not going to subside any time soon," he said. "It must be
that we continue to look for ways to cope with it, because that's what's given
to us on our watch.
"We take that, try to understand it, we take and make sure we communicate with
our people and get to the point where we do not fail to care for each and every
airmen we have."
The chief said the service is looking at the basics. The service was a
groundbreaker in efforts to prevent suicide and plans to re-examine its
suicide-prevention program to see that it still meets the needs of the Air
Force. If it does not, the service will change it so it does, Murray said.
The same is true of efforts to bolster military family members, daycare
offerings and quality-of-life initiatives for single airmen and those deployed
overseas.
"We're looking back to basics in training," he said "Next month we'll have our
20th basic training review. We ask ourselves, 'What is required of today's
force? Does our basic military training meet those needs?' (and) take that
through technical training and the operations as we move our airmen into the
force."
The chief said the service wants to ensure support programs are well-grounded.
"It's not creating new programs," he said. "We are so good at what we do. Our
airmen are incredible in the way that they focus themselves on the mission and
capabilities that they have. We do look after our people well, but at the same
time, we can't rest on that. We must continue to look for ways to be better."
Murray said the Air Force today is the best he has seen since he joined the
service in 1977. "What drives a young man or woman from America to come and
volunteer and serve today in a time of war?" he asked. "I see a commitment out
of our airmen … today that is just incredible. Some are saying this is the new
'greatest generation.' History will decide that. I'll tell you I see a
commitment out of our airmen today that is unlike it was when I came into the
service, and it's great to see."
Biography:
Chief Master Sgt. of the
Air Force Gerald R. Murray
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