AFGSC chief makes final visit to Malmstrom

Published Dec. 2, 2013
By Senior Airman Cortney Paxton
341st Missile Wing Public Affairs

MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- Chief Master Sgt. Brian Hornback, Air Force Global Strike Command chief, flew into Great Falls, Mont., on Nov. 20 for a two-day tour of Malmstrom Air Force Base - his final tour of the missile base before he retires in February.

During his visit, Hornback visited various areas across the base, including the K-9 unit, Elkhorn Dining Facility, 341st Force Support Squadron's military personnel section, Airman Leadership School, T-9 maintenance trainer and the bowling alley.

His stop at the Elkhorn Dining Facility on Nov. 21 included a breakfast with Wing Staff Agency enlisted members, which was set up by Staff Sgt. Kara Tank, 341st Missile Wing command chief assistant; and Senior Airman Michelle Collins, 341st MW protocol member. During this breakfast, the chief discussed issues like enlisted performance reports and the Military Woman of the Year.

"I was very impressed by the chief," Tank said. "I appreciated his bluntness about reality and he tells it how it is... He thanked us for everything that we do to keep the [341st] Missile Wing and the Air Force running. He knows that we play a vital role for the [base]. I will never forget his saying, 'if your mind is set, your butt will follow.' He was very knowledgeable and [what] I really took away [was that] ... what I can't control - to get over it and find something I can control."

Collins took part in the breakfast and ultimately ended up leaving with one of the chief's coins.

"Chief was very engaging and had a good understanding of the concerns of today's Airmen," she said. "He is an asset of the Air Force and will be missed when he retires."

Hornback was also able to take part in many different events, including an office call with Col. Robert Stanley, 341st MW commander; a visit to a chief promotion party, a dinner with first sergeants, a meet and greet with 341st Operations Group chefs and facility managers, a lunch with noncommissioned officers and an enlisted all call.

"It was good to see chief," said Chief Master Sgt. Michael Primo, 341st Missile Maintenance Squadron first sergeant, and attendee of the first sergeant dinner. "The great thing about Hornback is that he's very upfront and honest. One of the highlights of the dinner was discussing the way ahead for enlisted performance reports and the promotion system."

During his enlisted all call, Hornback discussed many pressing issues concerning Airmen throughout the Air Force. He discussed budget cuts and sequestration, the promotion system, EPRs and the future of the Air Force. After speaking, he opened the auditorium up to questions from the enlisted members. Questions included topics such as possible cuts of nuclear weapons and thoughts on morale issues represented in the media.

"Attitude is everything," he said of morale. "Take each letter of the alphabet - one through 26 - and put each letter with its number; and what you get when you add all the letters in 'attitude' is 100. Attitude is 100 percent of morale. Only you can control how you begin your day. If you wake up in a bad mood because the weather is bad, how do you think the rest of your day will go? If you're upset because you have to travel to the missile complex, guess what? You're going to do the same thing tomorrow. Don't dwell on the things you can't control; instead, focus on the things you can."

Hornback's visit ended with a dinner with chiefs across the base, at which he thanked the chiefs for their leadership and positivity throughout the recent inspections and any negativity media attention.

"I thank Chief Hornback for his leadership and 29-plus years of service to our great Air Force," said Chief Master Sgt. Phillip Easton, 341st MW command chief. "I also thank him for removing barriers presented to our Airmen. He has an extreme passion for taking care of Airmen; something not everyone has. He makes sure all Airmen have the tools they need to succeed."