ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Andrew Toth, Air Force Personnel Center commander, visited Altus AFB, Dec. 6, 2018, to discuss assignments and other personnel functions with the Airmen of the 97th Air Mobility Wing.
AFPC is responsible for managing duty stations and the professional development of all Airmen beneath the ranks of Colonel and Chief Master Sergeant.
Given this task, it is important that the commander communicates this information face-to-face.
“When I was in those lower ranks, we really didn’t talk about AFPC much,” said Toth. “There was sort of that bad karma around it where if you talked about it, you got a bad assignment. I like to go out and dispel those rumors and help people understand what we do and how we do it.”
In addition to visiting the personnel center at Altus AFB and talking to the civilian personnel flight, Toth also took time to talk to the pilots of the 97 AMW about retention in addition to other pertinent issues.
“If I don’t get told about your experiences, I miss a big part of the story,” said Toth. “If you tell me how I can help you, I can start to help you.”
Toth not only answered questions from the pilots, but asked his own.
“I want to know what we can do,” said Toth. “Our priority is always Airmen and taking care of you. I come from a fighter pilot community so it’s different, but also the same. You guys are the most valuable asset we have and we want to keep you.”
Visits from leadership not only allow for Airmen to get an inside view on how the systems that govern their lives operate, but for leadership to truly understand the wants and needs of the Airmen in their command.