PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- The Peterson-Schriever Garrison Diamond Council hosted an event featuring retired Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force #5 Bob Gaylor in a virtual meeting for Airmen and Guardians at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, on May 25, 2021.
The Zoom call provided Airmen and Guardians with a chance to interact and ask questions to the previous CMSAF.
“We chose him [Gaylor] based on the fact that he has high degree of training,” said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Shailie King-Sorrell, 21st Comptroller Squadron and Garrison Staff Agency first sergeant. “It’s very rare to have a person of that caliber be able to be face-to-face with Airmen and tell their story.”
During the virtual meeting, Gaylor discussed his four keys to success, motivation, opportunity, attitude and aptitude. He says that an Airman’s success depends on the initiative they put in.
“Only you can decide how much you want to increase your knowledge,” Gaylor said. “Only you can decide how much effort you’ll want to put into something.”
Gaylor mentioned that Airmen need to stay prepared for anything because opportunity can strike in an instant.
“Opportunity is so subtle you never know when it’s going to happen, and you never know where it’s coming from, wouldn’t it be a shame if your door opened and you were not ready?”
Gaylor also discussed his Air Force journey, and explained that he never expected his first enlistment to become a fulltime career. He left Lackland AFB, Texas, after Basic Military Training, and was assigned to Waco Air Base, Texas to begin his enlistment. Little did he know at that time that three years would become 31 years. Gaylors story continues to inspire many Airmen, including King.
“He came in planning to do his four years and then go. Then he did four more years and then did four more,” said King. “All of a sudden he had the highest enlisted rank. I think that’s unique because a lot of people think if they’re going to make chief they have to start making it the day they walk in.”
Over the chief’s career, he served many roles, from being a security forces police officer, to a military instructor, eventually becoming the CMSAF. He continues to tell his story and lead the way for today’s generation of Guardians and Airmen.