Interim command chief imparts leadership wisdom to rescue group Airmen

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Luke Johnson
  • 943rd Rescue Group Public Affairs
DAVIS MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  The interim command chief of the 920th Rescue Wing visited the 943rd Rescue Group here for the first time during the August Unit Training Assembly Weekend where he shared his thoughts on what he expects from the rescue group's enlisted corps.

He addressed rescue group Airmen during an enlisted call on some of the upcoming challenges facing the Air Force Reserve. Chief Master Sgt. Timothy Bianchi, 920th RQG Interim Command Chief explained some of the concerns of top Air Force leaders at a senior leadership conference he recently attended.

"There are three things that are a threat to national security: One of them is terrorism, two is nuclear and number three is our debt," said Chief Bianchi. "Debt has become so realistic to us in the military that all of our top Air Force leaders had the same reoccurring theme about the seriousness of our debt, and they have knocked billions off our budget, and it will affect all of us, regardless of rank."

He also explained some of the changes that will involve joint training and personnel records going electronic.

"We will be doing more Professional Military Training with other services," said Chief Bianchi. "I think it will be kind of neat to network with Army Soldiers and Marines."

He also explained training records are going totally electronic. Deploying Airmen will be leaving with a compact disc in hand instead of a training record.

Chief Bianchi would like to implement creative leadership programs, so that rescue Airmen will know what is expected of them when they rise through the ranks.

"We were thinking about having a shadowing program, where I take a few folks with me a whole UTA to see what a command chief does," he said. "We want to do the same with Non-Commissioned Officers. Allowing younger Airmen to spend time with them to see what will be expected of them when they become a staff or technical sergeant."

With deployments a way of life for rescue group Airmen, the chief wants to ensure that all troops are fully trained and ready before they head out the door.

"The deploying Airmen need to make sure they get the training they need to feel comfortable when they get to their respective duty locations in the Middle East because completing your training while in country is too late," said the chief. "We need to make sure that our Airmen don't feel inadequate going into combat."

When it comes to solving the problems of today's Airmen, Chief Bianchi addressed how to approach challenges.

"We have to be creative on some of the issues that are being presented to our current-day Airmen, and it involves all us, from the wing commander to an Airman, all ideas are subject to being implemented," he said.

Being in the acting command chief for only four months now, Chief Bianchi is devoted to helping rescue Airmen and ensuring they have what they need to be successful in combat operations.

"As a maintenance chief, I'm a fixer, I like to help the Airmen, and especially I need to make sure that my Airmen are equipped and ready to go on deployments," he said.

The interim command chief left the 943rd RQG wowed with how Airmen here execute the combat search and rescue mission.

"I'm really impressed with 943rd Airmen," said the chief. "You are all very professional and definitely have the esprit de corps a command chief or a chief would want to see in rescue Airmen."

For more information about the 920th RQW, log on to the wing's Web site: www.920rqw.afrc.af.mil or follow them on Facebook.