Punk NCO to command chief a dream realized for AFSOC's new enlisted leader Published Aug. 11, 2006 By Chief Master Sgt. Gary Emery Air Force Special Operations Command Public Affairs HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. (AFSOC News Service) -- His journey from self-described "punk NCO jumping out of airplanes" to leader of Air Force Special Operations Command's enlisted force is a dream come true for Chief Master Sgt. Michael Gilbert. Chief Gilbert took the reins as AFSOC's command chief master sergeant here today. The former special operations weatherman said that the quality of the command's enlisted warriors is what makes realizing that dream so sweet. "The neat thing about being around all our Air Commandos is getting to see what they do for our country, day in and day out," he said. "It's just that their approach to doing business is so positive - so 'can do'" That "business" is unique among Air Force enlisted Airmen, the chief said. "One of the unique characteristics about AFSOC is that its enlisted force is a big proportion of the command's operators, while that's not the case in most other commands. "In other commands, it's usually the folks up in the front of the jet who do the primary mission, but in our case it's the Airmen in back of the airplane and on the ground, as well as those up front" who have a combat role, he said. "Every mission we get is a different, so it provides a lot of opportunity for our enlisted people to step up," Chief Gilbert said. "There are a lot of chances for even the youngest members of our force to have a huge impact on the fight." Underlining that point, Chief Gilbert's first order of business as AFSOC command chief will be to travel to Reno, Nev., to help honor Tech. Sgt. Brad Reilly, who is receiving the Air Force Sergeants Association's Pittsenbarger Award. Sergeant Reilly, a combat controller from the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron at Hurlburt Field, received the Silver Star and Purple Heart for combat action in Afghanistan and was recently named as one of the Air Force's 12 Outstanding Airmen of the Year for 2006. "It's so great to be able to recognize one of our own who went so far above and beyond the call of duty, as so many in our command do," the chief said. "One of my priorities as command chief will be to get the word out to everyone about the great stuff we have going on and about the great contributions our Airmen are making around the world." AFSOC's Airmen face challenges above and beyond those on the battlefield, Chief Gilbert said. "We're retiring aircraft systems, gaining new aircraft types, and working issues in our training pipeline. All that continues while we have a war going on, it's just non-stop." Additionally, the recently-announced standup of a special operations wing at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., will bring more challenges - and opportunities ¬- for Hurlburt Airmen, he said. "It's the right thing to do, we're going to do it, and it's going to be great," the chief said. "But between here and there are a whole lot of questions about whose going, what units are involved and what airframes will go. People are concerned and understandably so, but we'll get through that. "(Lt. Gen. Michael Wooley, AFSOC commander) has made it very clear that he wants to tell everybody as much as he knows about the move all along the way, and he has," Chief Gilbert said. "Have faith, we're going to do this the best way we can. "At the end of the day, standing up a special operations wing at Cannon is the best thing for the command, for our Air Force and for our country," he said. "There are a lot of great Airmen who will go out there who will do great things." "This is just a phenomenal opportunity for a guy who was just a punk NCO jumping out of airplanes 20 years ago," Chief Gilbert concluded. "To go from that, to becoming one of the senior leaders in such a fantastic organization, just blows me away. "It's humbling and a great honor."