C M Y K Vol. 35, No. 27 Friday, July 4, 2008 MacDill says goodbye to Chief Cody , leaving for 18th AF byLauren Rachal 6th AMW Public Affairs intern “The career, not a given day or a given mo- ment,” is what Chief Master Sgt. James A. Cody, command chief, 6th Air Mobility Wing said, when asked what his most rewarding ex- perience has been as an Airmen. “Where I am today, I attribute that to all the Airmen that we work with,” said Chief Cody. MacDill will be losing a high-caliber com- mand chief come early July, as Chief Cody will embark on a new assignment to Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. He will be taking the posi- tion of command chief for the 18th Air Force. “I am very excited about the opportunity to move to numbered Air Force,” said Chief Cody. As the command chief of 6th AMW, Chief Cody served as the liaison between the wing commander and the enlisted force assigned to the wing. He was an advisor to the commander and staff on matters that included health, wel- fare, morale, training and effective utilization of assigned enlisted personnel. “This is just a wonderful place to be,” said Chief Cody. “You get to live the dream every File photo day right here in Tampa, Florida.” Col. Matthew Arens, Vice Wing Commander, Chief Master Sgt. James Cody, 6th Air Mobility Wing command chief, is moving on in his ca- 6th AMW has worked with Chief Cody since reer after almost a year at MacDill. He’s taking over as command chief for the 18th Air Force. February. Here, he helps STEP promote then Staff Sgt. Tim Sewell, C-37 flight engineer with the 310th “His impact can be felt throughout the wing Airlift Squadron. as evidenced by numerous quality of life im- “I’m going to miss it tremendously. We’ve A Boston native, Chief Cody enlisted in provements he has sponsored, even though he been blessed to come back here,” said Chief the Air Force in 1984 after earning his high has only been here for 11 months,” said Colo- Cody, who was stationed at MacDill in 2003. school diploma at North High School in Mas- nel Arens. “Chief will be greatly missed here Although he will miss MacDill, he knows what sachusetts. He then reported to Lackland AFB, at MacDill, but we know great things are in his duty to the Air Force is: “We’re here to Texas for basic training. In 1985 Chief Cody store for him and the Airmen of the 18th Air serve, not decide where we want to live for- graduated from the air traffic control special- Force.” ever,” he said. See CHIEF, Page 8 INSIDE TODAY A taste of salsa Fit to Fight Future weapons Speak out Page 3 Page 4 Page 14 Page 15 COMMENTARY Good leaders equipped their people for success by Maj. James J. Alonzo successful. In those cases when Airmen are 376th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron not motivated, ask why? It may be because Commander you are not equipping them for success or because you are not achieving discipline ef- Manas Air Base, Kyrgyzstan — I was fectively. recently given a 4 May 2008, article from the Second, it is important to look at how you Washington Post Magazine by General Rich- equip your Airmen to succeed. Have you ard Cody, Vice Chief of Staff of the US Army. given them the tools they need for success? Gen Cody focuses on his experience with Do they have the correct training, equipment discipline as a leader. He emphasizes that in and prioritization of objectives to meet your addition to setting the example and exacting intent? Simply put, do they know what you discipline, it is the leader’s job to ensure that want and are they prepared to do it. It is their people do well. It is the leader’s job to nearly impossible to succeed when you don’t set the right conditions for their peoples’ suc- know what you’re doing, don’t have what cess. It is a leader’s job to equip their people you need, or don’t know where to start. The for success. As a current or future leader leader’s job is to make sure their people are in our Air Force, it is important for you to trained, have the right tools and equipment, think about how you set the right conditions and understand what the most important ob- to ensure your unit’s success. Ask yourself, jectives are. are you motivating your people, are you Finally, you should look at how you are equipping them for success, and how are you achieving discipline. Discipline is defined as achieving discipline? training to act in accordance with the rules. First, I think it is important to note that Do you view punishment, a penalty inflicted Maj. James J. Alonzo we are an all volunteer force. According to for a fault, as the route to discipline? Or do Department of Defense media releases, the you look at failures of discipline as an oppor- individual wasn’t equipped for success, figure Air Force is meeting or exceeding recruiting tunity for corrective action? Do you punish out why they didn’t have the right training, and retention goals for this year. The vast your Airmen based on the results of their equipment, or priorities and how you are go- majority of our Airmen are in our service be- failures or when they fail do you use the op- ing to correct the deficiency. cause they want to be part of the Air Force. portunity to identify what went wrong and As we strive to be good leaders we should In the cases of any who don’t want to be part correct the cause of the failure? If it’s the constantly evaluate the motivation of our of the Air Force, there is normally someone individual’s effort, figure out why they aren’t Airmen, how well we are equipping them for in our nation anxious to take their place. In motivated and fix it. If together you can’t success, and if our method of achieving dis- most instances, motivation or willingness to improve their motivation, work with them cipline is effective. With this knowledge we serve is not the reason our Airmen fail to be to find a career outside the Air Force. If the should take action to ensure success. the Air Force or the 6th Air Mobility Wing. 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NEWS/FEATURES Chaplain’s aide serves salsa on the side by Airman 1st Class Tania Reid ing and sashaying to the Spanish beat. 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs “At times people would ask if the salsa was a sauce and if there would be chips; I’d say it is As an aide to 6th Air Mobility Wing chap- a dance it’s a saucy dance that is red hot,” said lains, the tempo of Tech. Sgt. Felipe Delarea’s Sergeant Delarea. “I began teaching salsa at day job is set by the mission, but come Friday Misawa Air Base in Japan 15 years ago. night, he moves to a different beat — the hot “There wasn’t a lot going on there so I Latin beat of salsa. thought why not give free salsa lessons; This On the surface the world of the clergy may would help others learn a little about the Lat- seem to contrast starkly with the racy Latin in culture,” said Sergeant Delarea. dance style, but Sergeant Delarea , who teach- The students dancing to the salsa agree es salsa dancing Fridays from 3:30 p.m. to 6 that the classes add a great groove to their p.m. at the base gym, believes his two passions Fridays. work for the greater good. “I’ve been in the class for three to four “I learned the salsa at a very young age,” he months; it’s exciting and a great alternative said.