NAF commander visits McGuire's Reserve wing

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Monica Dalberg
  • 514th Air Mobility Wing
MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. - --  Maj. Gen. Martin Mazick, commander, 22nd Air Force, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Ga., visited the 514th Air Mobility Wing here during the October unit training assembly. While at the base, General Mazick dropped in to meet with members at various units throughout the wing. One of his first stops was at the memorial here to Major Thomas B. McGuire, where he administered the oath of enlistment to seven new Reservists. General Mazick is a native of New Jersey, as was the World War II flying ace, Major McGuire. "It was three different generations, in a sense, of people answering our nation's call," said Senior Master Sgt. Henry McCaffrey, senior recruiter, of the location selected for the enlistment. General Mazick next took the time to greet attendees of the newcomers' briefing and answer a few of their questions. Welcoming the wing's newest members, the general urged them to be the best at their job skill levels, to always ensure they are prepared for mobility and to never stop learning. "Not all learning lessons come with a banner that says, 'This is a learning lesson!' Keep your eyes open and your ears open for learning opportunities," General Mazick advised. General Mazick also encouraged members to take part in the Air Force Climate Survey on the Air Force portal. He discussed questions on the survey particular to the Reserve and highlighted the importance of feedback on those questions. The more feedback members give, the more equipped AFRC will be to craft and put out policies for a better Reserve force. The Top 3 enlisted ranks gathered for lunch with General Mazick, where he imparted his thoughts on topics important to AFRC and members here at McGuire. "Share knowledge. It's power," stated General Mazick on the topic of mentoring. "You are growing the next group of people who will lead the military. The primary responsibility of the technician is to train your Airmen to do your job. The young people we see coming into the military today want to be trained, they want to do your job." On the subject of the Human Resources Development Council, General Mazick mentioned the enrichment HRDC workshops can provide. "At workshops it's about learning from all the other wings, 'You show me your best [community outreach programs] and I'll show you mine," he said. "You may have a great program but someone may have something you never thought about." General Mazick explained HRDC is a system and if one of the programs is lacking, the system will not function properly. Stressing development for retention and imparting Airmen want to be developed, he added, "Leave no Airman behind...HRDC at the field level is about inclusion of Airmen." While here General Mazick also emphasized the importance of Fit-to-Fight compliance, not just on drill weekends but at all times. "Doing it two days a month isn't going to hack it," he said of maintaining fitness levels within Air Force standards. "It's something you can't cram for. For most of us we have to work at it," stated General Mazick, as he stressed the significance of making a lifestyle change incorporating physical training. "We want you to collect your retirement for as long as you can," he joked.