2014 - A Historic Year for our Air Force

  • Published
  • By CMSAF James Cody
  • Air Force
WASHINGTON, D.C. --  Roll Call! The final days of the year are upon us. Around the world, many families and friends will gather to enjoy the holiday season and ring in a new year. Yet we are still actively, globally engaged and many Airmen will spend the season away from loved ones. Nonetheless, it's a time of celebration for many, and reflection for many more. As we close another chapter in our Air Force history, we should take pride in all our Airmen, Air Force, and Families have accomplished. The year has seen many achievements and just as many challenges...
you have consistently met them with honor, humility and resilience.

We continued to win the fight by providing aid to our Afghan partners as they establish and operationalize a sustainable air force; partnering with Iraqi and coalition partners to push back the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant, a truly vicious adversary; and supporting logistics, training and engineering efforts in Africa to contain the spread of the Ebola virus.

Force Management was a difficult trial this year. We took big losses through involuntary and voluntary programs - thankfully that won't be the case next year as there will be no involuntary force management programs. Through it all, we've continued to strengthen the team. We introduced the Airman Comprehensive Assessment, which supports a better dialogue between Airmen and their supervisors; took significant actions to invigorate the nuclear enterprise; and delivered higher quality professional military education through blended learning courses.

We also shaped the future to meet strategic vectors outlined in the Air Force 30-Year Strategy. We launched the Airman Powered by Innovation program to more effectively turn your ideas into cost savings, and introduced changes to both the Enlisted Performance Reports and Weighted Airman Promotion System to ensure job performance is the most important factor when we evaluate and identify Airmen for promotion.

These are significant strides and merely scratch the surface of what our team has done this year. From top to bottom our Airmen have made strides to grow leaner, faster and stronger. As you meet with your team this month, reflect on those accomplishments. Consider the impact you have made, individually and as a teammate in the world's greatest Air Force. Thank those around you who have offered a helping hand, and, if mission allows, enjoy some well-earned time with those who deserve our greatest gratitude: our families.

2015 will come soon enough and undoubtedly will have its own trials...every year does, but if our history is an
indication we'll once again triumph. It's what you do, and what you've always done. You are our greatest asset
and strength, and we couldn't be prouder of each and every one of you.