VICKSBURG, Miss. - Bruce Stewart, Air Force Global Strike Command command historian, explains a map to chief master sergeants and chief selects in Vicksburg, Miss., Jan. 26. Air Force Global Strike Command chief master sergeant and chief master sergeant selects went on a tour of Vicksburg as an informal way to welcome all of those who will be promoted to chief master sergeant in 2012. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Benjamin Gonsier)

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VICKSBURG, Miss. - Bruce Stewart, Air Force Global Strike Command command historian, explains a map to chief master sergeants and chief selects in Vicksburg, Miss., Jan. 26. Air Force Global Strike Command chief master sergeant and chief master sergeant selects went on a tour of Vicksburg as an informal way to welcome all of those who will be promoted to chief master sergeant in 2012. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Benjamin Gonsier)

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VICKSBURG, Miss. - Senior Master Sgt. Jerry Wilkerson, right, 509th Logistics Readiness Squadron from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., and Chief Master Sgt. Terry West, Eighth Air Force command chief, read a tablet in Vicksburg, Miss., Jan. 26. Throughout Vicksburg there are color coded position tablets marking certain events and battles that took place during the Civil War. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Benjamin Gonsier)

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VICKSBURG, Miss. - Bruce Stewart, Air Force Global Strike Command command historian, speaks with a group of chief master sergeants and chief selects about the Civil War era in Vicksburg, Miss., Jan. 26. Stewart dressed up as a Civil War era Union first sergeant to help make the tour of Vicksburg feel more authentic. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Benjamin Gonsier)

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VICKSBURG, Miss. - Bruce Stewart, Barksdale Air Force Base historian, points at what used to be a part of the Mississippi River in Vicksburg, Miss., Jan. 26. The Siege of Vicksburg took place here and was a major turning point in the Civil War. This was the site where the Union took control of the Mississippi River. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Benjamin Gonsier)

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VICKSBURG, Miss. - Bruce Stewart, Air Force Global Strike Command command historian, speaks to a group of chief master sergeants and chief selects about the cannon Soldiers used during the Civil War in Vicksburg, Miss., Jan 26. Air Force Global Strike Command welcomed its new chiefs by sending them on a tour of Vicksburg. During the tour, Stewart explained to the chiefs and chief selects how senior NCOs motivated their men back in the Civil War era. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Benjamin Gonsier)

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VICKSBURG, Miss. - A reconstruction of a typical trench from the Civil War era stands in Vicksburg, Miss., Jan. 26. In front of the trench is a Cheval de Frise, which is made out of poles that are used to stop cavalry from charging over the trench. These contraptions made it easy for Soldiers to deter invading enemies. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Benjamin Gonsier)

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New AFGSC chiefs, chief selects learn from history

Published Jan. 30, 2012
By Airman 1st Class Benjamin Gonsier
2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- Air Force Global Strike Command's new chief master sergeants and chief selects learned leadership lessons from senior NCOs of the past during the AFGSC Chief orientation Jan. 23-27 at Barksdale Air Force Base, La.

During the course, Lt. Gen. Jim Kowalski, AFGSC commander, explained what command expects from each of them. The group also went to Vicksburg, Miss., for a tour of the battlefield and to learn how Civil War Senior NCOs led their troops.

Bruce Stewart, former Navy aviation electronics technician and Barksdale historian, served as a tour guide and portrayed a first sergeant named Orrin Southwell from Company H Ill. volunteer infantry. He explained to the participants his role in the Civil War and how it relates to the military right now.

"You guys are like the sergeant majors," Stewart said. "They had to find ways to convince their men that this is the best plan for them."

Senior NCOs in the Civil War led by example; while in battle they would be the first to charge ahead onto the battlefield as their men followed closely behind, Stewart said. He went on to explain how senior NCOs of the present need to have the same motivational skills as they did in order to motivate their Airmen.

During the tour, he brought up actual Civil War battles and explained what the senior NCOs did to come out on top.

According to Stewart, senior NCOs promised promotions to the young Soldiers willing to follow their orders as directed. While that guarantee can't be used anymore, one participant brought up giving their Airmen some rest and relaxation after a job well done.

"The decisions leaders make are timeless," said Chief Master Sgt. David Maniccia, AFGSC. "What applied in the Civil War still applies now."

While the times may be different, not much has changed.

"Young Airmen still need to be inspired and led," said Chief Master Sgt. Brian Hornback, AFGSC command chief.

"This orientation is not an event to celebrate their achievement of making chief master sergeant," said Hornback. "This orientation is designed to prepare them to become strategic leaders and how to apply that knowledge at the tactical and operational levels they will be initially be leading in. We added the twist of including some historical lesson of leadership from the battle of Vickburg. The lessons are timeless as an NCOs role of inspiring their troops to achieve the mission while understanding the bigger picture hasn't changed much since the Civil War."

Becoming chief is a milestone only one percent of all enlisted personnel reach, making it one of the hardest ranks to make in all of the military. The responsibilities they overtake determine how effectively their Airmen accomplish the missions of the Air Force.