‘Make it yours’ 673d ABW’s senior enlisted leader speaks about focus

On July 12, Chief Master Sgt. Charles C. Orf took over as command chief master sergeant of the 673d Air Base Wing, the highest enlisted position within the wing.

Orf, a native of San Bernardino, California, enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in January of 1994, and began his career as a law enforcement specialist. At his most recent assignment, Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, he served as command chief master sergeant of the 8th Fighter Wing.

Orf said this assignment is more than just a job. It’s an opportunity to help each individual under his leadership to understand their part in the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson mission.

“I hate when I talk to someone and ask what they mdo and the second word out of their mouth is ‘just’,” said mOrf. “’I just check ID cards’, ‘I just check out basketballs,’ ‘I just…’ but it’s bigger than that. That’s on me, and that’s on leaders to explain how important they are, how important the job their unit does is to the overall mission. We need them to understand just how important and incredible they are to the success of that mission. We are all equally important to mission success, and I want us to create an inclusive family of Arctic Warriors here.”

A command chief master sergeant is a vital link between the commander and the enlisted force by providing guidance and advice, ensuring our forces are ready to fight any time and any place in a global environment.

“My job is to be my commander’s principal advisor on enlisted issues of organizing, training, developing and equipping our Airmen, taking care of their families and basically preparing them to fight tonight if necessary,” Orf said. “An equal role I play is to provide my commander a barometer or monitor for policy, procedure or processes to ensure his direction is interpreted as he intends. Another aspect is to ensure we maintain a senior leader partnership with other leaders across J BER, being i n tune with their needs and ensuring the things the 673d ABW provides meet those needs.”

As he begins his tenure as senior enlisted advisor, Orf has set some goals for his time here. By the time he leaves, he said, he wants every Airman to know the mission and how they fit into that mission to create a sense of value of what they bring to the fight.

“I want our Airmen to be air-minded, from a perspective of what Airmanship means, and for them to be focused on their deliberate development on their Airmanship skills as well as the skills necessary to complete their mission.” Orf said. “I like to use the acronym KISS – know your Airmen and their family, and learn what motivates them; inspire them to become better through involvement with them every day; supervise and support them actively, both professionally with their development and personally in whatever their needs may be.

“When your Air man comes to talk to you, that’s most likely the most important conversation they will have that day. Make it yours too.”