New rescue chiefs inducted

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Natasha Dowridge
  • 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla.-- A uniform adorned with eight stripes is an honor only one percent of the Air Force has the pleasure of wearing. Four Air Force Reservists and one active-duty Airmen recently joined that elite group during a Chief's Recognition Ceremony held March 1 in Cocoa Beach, Fla.

Those inducted were as follows:

Chief Master Sgt. Andrew Canfield, superintendent, 304th Rescue Squadron
Chief Master Sgt. Douglas Isaacks, pararescue superintendent, 308th RQS
Chief Master Sgt. Michael Jones, pararescue functional area manger, HQ AFRC
Chief Master Sgt. Kenneth Swainston, chief enlisted manager, 920th Operation Support Squadron
Senior Master Sgt. Sylvia Morris (chief-select), superintendent, 45th Logistics Readiness Squadron

Carrying on a tradition from the induction ceremony, an Airman from each rank lit a candle representing each Air Force enlisted rank from airman basic to chief master sergeant.

Guest speaker 10th Air Force Command Chief Master Sgt. Thomas Brandhuber cautioned the new chiefs to not use the power of their rank to their advantage.

"Just because you're a chief, doesn't mean that you can take the short cuts," said Chief Brandhuber. "In fact, it means you need to go above and beyond. Because it's all about the Airmen. We want them to be a chief. We need to lay the foundation for them."

On hand to show support and offer congratulations to the inductees were 920th Rescue Wing Commander Col. Jeffrey Macrander, 920th Command Chief Master Sgt. Timothy Bianchi, 45th Space Wing Commander Brig. Gen. Nina Armagno and 45th Space Wing Command Chief Master Sgt. Herman Moyer, as well as a host of other group and squadron commanders from both units.

The ceremony concluded with inductees reciting the Airman's Creed, followed by Chief Moyer reading the Chief's Oath.

General Armagno finished the evening with a ringing endorsement of the inductees.

"The Air Force are asking for bold leaders, and I cannot think of bolder leaders then the five chiefs we've inducted tonight," she said.