LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
Chief Master Sgt. James Johnson, 1st Fighter Wing command chief has spent more than 24 years in the Air Force. Father of three and husband for more than 10 years, Chief Johnson initially enlisted when he was 19 in his hometown of Radcliff, Ky.
When not overseeing enlisted Airmen here, Chief Johnson spends his spare time reading, working out and attending school. Being deployed numerous times and encountering several changes since his enlistment in 1982, the chief said departing the Air Force is going to be the biggest change yet.
Although he doesn't officially retire until March, today is Chief Johnson's last day. Chief Johnson took time out to talk to The Flyer Nov. 28, about mentoring, communication and retirement.
Q: What made you join the Air Force?
A: I had been going to college for a year and working small jobs on the side. I realized I needed to do something else, so I joined the Air Force - mainly for job stability, travel and training.
Q: Did your reasons change over time?
A: My reasons morphed into patriotism, loyalty and what the Air Force and Armed Forces stand for and what we do for the country.
Q: What changes have you seen since you enlisted?
A: The biggest change was the end of the Cold War era, which was an important part of history.
Q: And at Langley?
A: The new runway was a huge deal. This base is the oldest running active-duty base and to be able to keep the base looking so good is like taking care of an antique - its well worth it.
Q: You have been at Langley for a little under two years; what will you remember most?
A: Receiving the F-22A Raptor was just a monumental event and getting the opportunity to be the first to host the jet is a big deal. That's a premier warfighting machine, who wouldn't be proud of that?
Q: What do you feel are some of your major accomplishments?
A: Making chief is number one and being a first sergeant was a big deal to me as well.
Q: That takes a lot of mentoring right?
A: A tremendous amount! It's our responsibility to share our experiences and knowledge with our Airmen. Learning and sharing is what keeps the Air Force alive.
Q: What makes a good mentor?
A: Out of the many mentors I had, when I was a young Airmen Chief Master Sgt. Kenneth Schmidt always stands out. He would always put the airmen over the project. He would be patient enough to sit and answer all of our questions to make sure we had the concept and ensure things would be done right the next time, and I feel that's something NCOs should do with their Airmen - help them early on.
Q: And for those who need mentoring?
A: Never be afraid to ask questions. Sit down and talk with your master sergeants and chiefs. All this knowledge we have and understanding needs to be shared more often.
Q: What advice do you have for young Airmen?
A: Most importantly, stay positive; it's easy to be negative because of deployments and drawdowns. What Airmen need to remember is 50 years ago, the Air Force was going through major changes and people staying positive and attuned to the rules made the Air Force what it is today.
Q: What have you learned from the Air Force?
A: Everything is possible through hard work and smart decisions. Everything.
Q: What are your plans after retirement?
A: I'm going to be a regional director for educational services for Fidelity investments. I will travel and teach people about their options and goals. The job is similar to my past jobs as a professional military instructor and first sergeant so I'm very excited.
Q: What advice do you have for others retiring?
A: Be prepared and have a plan. It comes at you fast, so listen to your heart and stay positive until you're finished.
Q: Do you have any final thoughts?
A: It all comes down to what Lt. Gen. Gary North, 9th Air Force Commander tells his Airmen; "Be smart, be fit and be ready." If we do all three of those things in depth, we're going to be the best Airmen we can be. Being smart doesn't mean just be good in college. Being fit doesn't mean just being able to go out and pass your physical training test. Being ready is the culmination of it all. Being ready to pack your bags, go somewhere and be fully confident that you're ready to walk out that door. Being sure you and your family are well-prepared says everything.