News>Kadena chief set to retire, compares past, present
Photos
U.S. Air Force Col. David Nahom, 18th Operations Group commander, helps Chief Master Sgt. Mychael Bland, 18th OG superintendent, unlatch his safety harness inside a U.S. Air Force F-15 Eagle following Bland's incentive flight on Kadena Air Base, Japan, Jan. 13, 2012. Bland, who has served the U.S. Air Force longer than the average age of all enlisted Airmen, plans to draw the final curtain on his Air Force career following his retirement Jan. 27. (U.S. Air Force photo by Maj. Christopher Anderson/Released)
A U.S. Air Force F-15 Eagle crew chief marshals U.S. Air Force Col. David Nahom, 18th Operations Group commander and pilot, and Chief Master Sgt. Mychael Bland, 18th OG superintendent, after the chief's incentive flight on Kadena Air Base, Japan, Jan. 13. Bland, who has served the U.S. Air Force longer than the average age of all enlisted Airmen, plans to retire from the U.S. Air Force Jan. 27. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Maeson L. Elleman/Released)
U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Matt Molloy, 18th Wing commander, shakes hands with U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Mychael Bland, 18th Operations Group superintendent, after the chief's incentive flight on Kadena Air Base, Japan, Jan. 13, 2012. Bland, who has served the U.S. Air Force longer than the average age of all enlisted Airmen, plans to draw the final curtain on his Air Force career following his retirement Jan. 27. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Maeson L. Elleman/Released)
by Airman 1st Class Maeson L. Elleman
18th Wing Public Affairs
1/23/2012 - KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- With only a few days left, time is running out for one Kadena enlisted leader.
Chief Master Sgt. Mychael Bland, 18th Operations Group superintendent who has served the U.S. Air Force longer than the average age of all enlisted Airmen, plans to draw the final curtain on his Air Force career following his retirement Jan. 27.
Looking back on the 30 years of service, the Colorado Springs, Colo. native remembers how the service has changed since his first duty station in Germany before the fall of the Berlin Wall.
"We're much smaller [now]," the chief said. "I [entered during] the Reagan years and we were almost twice the size of the Air Force now. Uniforms have changed; philosophies have changed."
"Airmen now ... those who've come in over the last 10 years know deploying, so they're used to that," Bland explained about the post-Cold War mindset. "When I came in, there were TDYs and '30 days,' but there was no such thing as deploying. The Middle East was always a hot pit, but we weren't spending a whole lot of time over there as an Air Force. So I think the current generation of young Airmen, though it's already known, has a greater challenge.
But despite having a much smaller force now, Bland said size isn't the only thing that has been altered throughout the decades.
"Our young airmen are better educated than they ever have been, and I think that's a really good thing," he said about professional development in the service. "They had the [Professional Military Education Centers], but other than the required things like [Airman Leadership School], NCO Academy and Senior NCO Academy, that was it. Now we have all kinds of forums - professional enlisted seminars, professional development seminars - so we're much more focused on developing our enlisted folks beyond their [Air Force Specialty Codes.]"
Bland said though the U.S. Air Force's motto may have changed since he first enlisted, one thing that has remained constant is its unmatched capability to fly, flight and win.
Although Bland hasn't flown strafing missions over the battlefield or single-handedly fought the wars in the Middle East during his career, each duty in the Air Force plays an important role in accomplishing the overall mission.
The chief started off the first four years of his career as a civil engineering heavy operator. Despite his love for "playing with adult Tonka trucks," he moved into communications when it was still in its infancy. He remained in the field for 23 years before moving to Kadena.
Out of the three jobs, Bland said being at Kadena has been his most enjoyable experience in the Air Force.
"I think being that close to the flying mission and really learning and seeing what we're supposed to accomplish with the different air frames is pretty amazing," Bland said.
In the Bland family, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. The rank Chief Bland says is the "coolest rank in the Air Force," is a grade similarly held by his father, retired Army Command Sgt. Maj. Fred Bland, who was stationed at Fort Carson near the chief's hometown.
With the rank, the chief said he's enjoyed helping Airmen develop in their own lives.
"I get the most satisfaction from being able to grow Airmen and use my experience to give them advice and help them professionally or personally," he said.
One such example of the advice Chief Bland gives Airmen is how to be successful in life.
"In our current Air Force, there's no reason we can't have a successful professional career, successful family life, and personal career like school, but all three take some effort," Bland said. "There are many examples of people who have been successful in all three."
Although the chief is ready to move out of the military lifestyle where he will be able to spend more time with his wife and 9-year-old son, listen to music and work out, he said he's happy for the experiences the Air Force has given him.
"I'm still 100 percent glad I joined the Air Force," he said. "I absolutely loved my career. I wish I had taken more advantages, but hindsight's 20/20. I have no regrets."
Comments
1/24/2012 7:53:10 PM ET Congratulations on Retiring Chief Bland It was a blessing to have met you and your sweet wife. Thank you for all of your service to our country. Good luck on your future life endeavors The McPherson's
