Group commander, aerial port chief meet CMSAF

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Phyllis Keith
  • 624th Regional Support Group Public Affairs
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawai'i --  The commander of the 624th Regional Support Group and the chief enlisted manager for the 48th Aerial Port Squadron had a rare opportunity to meet privately with the Air Force's top enlisted leader during his visit here, Jan. 16.

Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Cody sat down with Col. Maynard "Max" Mendoza, commander of the largest Air Force Reserve presence in the Pacific, and Chief Master Sgt. Gregory Boyer, a senior enlisted reservist, at the Aloha Conference Center.

Both Mendoza and Boyer said they were impressed that Cody carved out time during his busy two-day schedule to meet with them.

Mendoza gave Cody an overview of the units he commands--three squadrons at Hickam Field, Hawaii and two at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam--and their commitment to the total force concept through participation with the 515th Air Mobility Operations Wing in base exercises and training.

"We're reducing redundancies and completely integrating versus being co-located," said Cody.

The total force concept integrates Air Force's active duty, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units, creating a more cost-efficient and culturally cohesive force.

Cody said, "I appreciate the fact that the components have their necessary differences but when it comes to capability, it's just all about Airmen. There's only one Air Force."

Mendoza and Boyer said their number one issue was manpower, no different from the active duty and Guard units who also had been affected by budget cuts and downsizing. Mendoza told Cody about the recent deactivation of the 624th RSG's security forces squadron they had spent more than three years standing up.

Cody said, "Most of the decisions we have to make are creating capability, maintaining capability for the nation. Given the fact that we do not have enough resources and we cannot afford all the resources we have, we have to make decisions about the ones we have."

Mendoza and Boyer said speaking face-to-face with the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force reinforced their focus on wingmanship and the mission at hand as key to maintaining a state of readiness.

"We'll have to come back at a point when you're drilling and spend some dedicated time with your Airmen just availing ourselves to them and seeing what's on their mind and watching them do their mission," said Cody.