First Sergeant special duty manager visits D-M

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Saphfire Cook
  • 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Chief Master Sgt. Robert Frank, Air Force first sergeant special duty manager, paid D-M a visit Nov. 15-17.

As the first sergeant special duty manager, Chief Frank oversees more than 2,500 active-duty, guard and reserve first sergeants.

"What I loved about being a first sergeant was getting out and about and seeing what the Airmen do," Frank said. "Now, working in the Pentagon, it is difficult for me to stay as closely connected to Airmen. Fortunately I have opportunities, like this trip to Davis-Monthan, to get out and talk to people."

A member of the office of the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, Chief Frank spends his days at the Pentagon working closely with Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy as an advisor and sounding board. His primary duties are to generate the policies and procedures for the Air Force's first sergeants.

"The major things that we are working these days are providing improved policies for our first sergeants to better serve their Airmen," Frank said. "We want to put into place programs and management processes so that we consistently provide the training and equipment our first sergeants deserve."

Retention and staffing is also a concern his office is working to resolve.

"When you talk about a little bit of a manning drop within most Air Force specialty codes it doesn't have that big of an impact," Frank said. "But when you are talking about first sergeants, which is a one-deep position, it can be devastating for a unit or a wing."

While on D-M, Chief Frank spent three days meeting different components of the Desert Lightning community from Airmen in the dorms to squadron first sergeants. He also stopped by Public Affairs to talk about current events and issues facing today's Air Force.

Recently, the Air Force announced that civilian positions will be eliminated from Fitness Assessment Cells.

"One of the things that will never change is the expectation for our Airmen to be fit," Frank said. "A fit Airman is a more productive Airman. The assessments are a way to ensure that our force is ready and Airmen have got to integrate fitness into their everyday life."

The Air Force is constantly changing, as are its Airmen. Chief Frank, having entered basic military training in 1988, has had a chance to watch the force grow.

"We have some very smart, very capable Airmen in our Air Force today," Frank said. "I went to a Community College of the Air Force graduation here, and there were six airmen first class receiving their degrees. Less than three years in the Air Force and they are already preparing for the future."

Chief Frank used his time at D-M to observe how the Airmen live, eating at the dining facility and touring D-M's newest dormitory. He spoke at a Community College of the Air Force graduation and a symposium for the base first sergeants.

"It's worth every penny to get out and see the first sergeants and Airmen, hear the issues that are going on, talk about the policies that are being developed and bounce them off folks to make sure that we get the right vector so that we can move forward in a positive manner," Frank said.