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TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Chief Master Sgt. Shelina Frey, Air Mobility Command command chief, visited here Feb. 7 – 11.
During her visit, Frey received mission briefings from the 60th Air Mobility Wing and 621st Contingency Response Wing. She also met with Airmen of all ranks, toured the 60th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordnance disposal range, Travis flightline and the Air Force’s largest medical facility, David Grant USAF Medical Center.
“Travis is a critical part of AMC’s mission,” Frey said. “We wouldn’t be able to execute Rapid Global Mobility as quickly and as efficiently as we do, without the tremendous support of the Airmen here at Travis.”
“With generating RGM, there are no bounds,” Frey added. “We have to ensure we have the right effects at the right place, at the right time and ensure we’re working toward the same vision…global reach for America, always.”
Frey said Travis AFB, which is home to three wings, including the largest air mobility wing in AMC, is advancing Rapid Global Mobility every day.
“Travis brings five unique assets and capabilities to Rapid Global Mobility, the C-5, C-17, KC-10, the medical center and all that supports those entities,” Frey said. “Travis is our largest wing and it’s a premiere wing ensuring global reach for America, 24/7, 365 days a year supporting nine combatant commanders.”
Ensuring that global reach and the ability to project American power anytime…anywhere, is possible because of the dedication of Airmen and their families, Frey said.
“Our Air Force is in good hands and has a bright future because there are Americans out there who believe in who we are and what we do and they want to be a part of that,” she said. “AMC is successful because of the hard work, dedication and sacrifice of our Mobility Airmen and our families. They are our greatest assets because they chose to serve in our Air Force and when they made that choice, they had no idea what that would entail.”
They didn’t know what challenges they would endure, all the rules and standards they would have to adhere to, the successes they would have or the growth they would go through, Frey said.
“We are successful because Airmen and their families are committed to our mission and they believe in what we do as an Air Force,” she said. “Airmen today face unique challenges from budget constraints to manning shortages, which causes strain – however, with communication and the right leadership, they continue to exceed expectations while overcoming challenges.
As the AMC command chief, Frey is the principal advisor to the AMC commander and his senior staff on matters of health, welfare and morale, professional development and the effective utilization of more than 38,000 active duty and 71,000 Air Force Reserve and National Guard enlisted Airmen assigned to AMC.
Throughout her visit, Frey addressed several topics with Airmen including professional development opportunities, what it takes to become a first sergeant or chief master sergeant and tips on how each Airman could serve and lead with excellence.
The command chief also joined Airmen for lunch to offer professional counsel and provide insight into life questions.
“Chief Frey gave us great advice and told us to be ourselves, don’t live a double life, don’t be someone at work and someone else at home,” Airman 1st Class Lindsay Collins, 6th Air Refueling Squadron boom operator. “She also encouraged us to help others, especially people who may be going through difficult times or thinking about suicide.”
Collins said she contemplated separating from the Air Force, but after meeting Frey, she’s decided to stay in the service.
“I’m going to stay in the Air Force and strive to be a chief some day and inspire others like her,” Collins said.
Senior Airman Michelle Carrillo, 60th Logistics Readiness Squadron material management journeyman, also attended the lunch with Frey and said the chief made her feel welcome and valued.
“She was very personable, easy to talk to and you can tell she really cares about Airmen,” she said. “Whether the subject was personal or professional she was willing to tell us anything we wanted to know which was really refreshing. It can be intimidating when you’re talking with someone so high in rank, but with her, it was relaxing.”
Frey also shared what impressed her most during her visit…Airmen.
“The Airmen here know the mission, know their jobs, love what they do and they’re excited about doing it,” Frey said.
And those Airmen have great leaders, she added.
“The leadership team at Travis has a vision for the mission and they’re focused on preparing Airmen for success while ensuring those Airmen understand the vision,” Frey said. “They’re doing things to professionally develop their Airmen to ensure they’re ready to meet mission demands, growing Airmen into future leaders and taking care of families.”
During her visit, Frey met with Travis first sergeants, as well as wing, group and squadron leadership. She also visited the Travis First Term Airmen Center and Sergeant Paul P. Ramoneda Airman Leadership School. She recognized Airmen for outstanding performance at several locations and at the visit’s conclusion, reminded other chiefs as a keynote speaker at a recognition ceremony of their enduring leadership responsibilities to a diverse force.
“Never forget who you’re leading,” Frey said. “You’re leading people who raised their hands and said ‘I.’ You’re working for the I’s and the I’s are a diverse group of Americans who come in from different backgrounds, cultures and different thought processes and they bring all that into our Air Force…We have to lead our Airmen with that understanding, individually. Every ‘I’ is different and equally important.”
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