AETC command chief shares thoughts on new duties Published Sept. 15, 2008 By Staff Sgt. Vernon Cunningham 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Chief Master Sgt. Robert Tappana, Air Education Training Command command chief, shared his thoughts on his new position and some aspects of Air Force training during a recent visit to Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. Chief Tappana said his main goal was to serve Airmen well. "The AETC command chief is not in charge of anything. It is a service position," he said. Chief Tappana said a leader in his position needs to know and understand the enlisted Airmen of his command and help them be successful -- whether by setting them up for success or removing obstacles from their path. The command's top enlisted member said his goals work in chorus with AETC's mission of developing America's Airmen today for tomorrow, because if he does a good job of taking care of Airmen then they can and will focus on the mission. "It's part of the measure of my success," he said. In addition, Chief Tappana noted that the warrior-focused direction of Air Force training is essential since the Air Force has changed from a garrison mentality to an expeditionary force. Every Airman must be ready to deploy on any given day, he said. "We must have superb technical skills, and be physically, mentally, and emotionally prepared, to go into the area of responsibility," Chief Tappana said, adding that it is essential that we care for our families. Along with a warrior focus, Airmen need to be exceptional in what they do, Chief Tappana said. "Education is the foundation of leadership. Our Professional Military Education courses and Community College of the Air Force degrees are essential to keeping our leadership and technical abilities sharp. "It is the key to what makes us strong," Chief Tappana said. According to the chief, technical abilities are especially important when preparing to serve in a joint service environment. "Our main purpose is to deploy, and the best thing an Airman can do when preparing for deployment is to know their job and know how what they do feeds into the mission. "The best way to gain credibility in the joint environment is to be very good at what you do. That is why excellence is one of our core values," the chief said. Chief Tappana said Sheppard is doing great work and is incredibly important. He said AETC is not only creating warriors for the current battle, they are creating warriors for the next war and the wars after that. "Somewhere in our classrooms," Chief Tappana said, "is a future chief of staff of the Air Force, chief master sergeant of the Air Force and countless commanders, chiefs, and first sergeants. They are learning about our Air Force, our core values, and warrior ethos, and their new career fields from our military training leaders and technical training instructors. "We are creating the future of our country, one Airman at a time."