LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Chief Master Sgt. Paul Moreau, the new command chief of the 2nd Air Force, was at Lackland from June 24-27 to assess one of its premiere wings. Chief Moreau took command on May 29.
"I have taken in so much information," Chief Moreau said. "Leadership is strong here at Lackland. What we do here is launch Airmen. We need to continue to strive to make it the showcase of the United States Air Force."
Because the 2nd Air Force oversees basic military training and technical training, its main focus right now is the transition of basic military training from a six-and-a-half week period to eight-and-a-half weeks.
"It's not so much about the 2nd Air Force. It's about the United States Air Force. What we will see from that [transition] is a better Airman, a stronger Airman, an Airman who is ready for multiple threats and is prepared to engage them all," Chief Moreau said.
Chief Moreau plans to bring a strong sense of the Air Force core values to his position and to the enlisted Airmen under his command.
"If you take the core values out of the Air Force then the Air Force ceases to exist," he said. "I have to be able to count on my brothers or sisters in the Air Force. I don't necessarily need to know their names, or what religion they practice; it doesn't matter to me. I need to know that they understand and strive to meet the core values as best they can."
The 2nd Air Force command chief will also instill the notion that the Airmen's Creed is something far greater than words spoken occasionally.
"My expectations and goals are a reflection of our creed, and not just saying those words, but walking the walk," Chief Moreau said. "We need to also start giving a good assessment of ourselves, reanalyzing our standards and making sure we enforce our standards all the way through the ranks."
The discipline that Chief Moreau plans to cultivate during his tenure of command chief is something he holds himself to in other aspects of his life as well.
"I'm definitely a gym rat," Chief Moreau said. "All non-commissioned officers need our young Airmen to see us breaking a sweat."
Chief Moreau tries to work out twice a day on week days when he is not on temporary duty. "I'm known to do a push-up contest every now and then," he said with a chuckle.
Even though Chief Moreau's position brings many duties, he plans to keep as one of his primary focuses the quiet leadership illustrated by discipline.
"I can only hope that my peers and those who are subordinate to me can see me as an example," Chief Moreau said. "I want them to see my discipline so they can emulate it, just as I emulated my superiors coming up the ranks. If you think about being a model every day and accept that, then your discipline comes out naturally."