Retired CMSAF Robert Gaylor inspires 501st CSW Airmen during visit

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Brian Stives
  • 501st Combat Support Wing Public Affairs
RAF ALCONBURY, United Kingdom --  Retired Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Robert Gaylor, the fifth Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, visited members of the 501st Combat Support Wing March 7.

The jovial, well-spoken and passionate Gaylor shared his story and secrets to success with Airmen at a wing-wide enlisted-call in the theater, "I can't stand here and address the current issues of today, but if you're looking for someone who can talk about the Air Force almost from day one, I'm the guy," he said.

Born in 1930, Gaylor grew up during the Depression and was an adolescent during World War II. A self-proclaimed walking encyclopedia of Air Force history, Gaylor joined the Air Force Sept. 8, 1948; almost exactly one year after the Air Force became its own branch of the military.

Gaylor became the fifth Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force in 1977. Luck, he said, has very little to do with his journey in life, "I was not born with a magic spoon in my mouth. You have to make investments that may not pay off until later, but if you don't make the investments, nothing happens."

While at RAF Alconbury, the chief toured RAF Alconbury and RAF Molesworth, ate lunch with Airmen from RAF Alconbury, RAF Croughton, RAF Menwith Hill and RAF Molesworth at the Community Activities Center and hosted an enlisted call at the theater.

There are four words, he said, that answer the question, "How does somebody get ahead?"

Aptitude is the first word, "aptitude defines what you're able to do, what you are able to perform," said Gaylor. "Don't ever stop learning. Learning is exciting."

The second word is motivation.

"Motivation defines what you will do; it is taking what you learn and putting some effort into it," he said.

Attitude is the third word, he said. "Attitude defines how well you will do it. This is how I succeeded; I dazzled them with my attitude. When I came to work, I came to work. I must have been the easiest Airman to supervise."

The first three words, Gaylor said, are within everyone's control. "You have the greatest power you will ever have, the power to deal with those three things. Only you can develop how much aptitude in your life; we can send you off to school, but only you can decide how much motivation you want to apply. We can bring you into a unit, but only you can decide what your attitude is toward that."

The fourth word is opportunity.

"That is one you may not be able to control. Opportunity, that is when that door opens and they call your name and you go, 'me,' and they go, 'yes, you.' You never know when it's going to happen or where it's going to come from," he said. "Where you come into play is aptitude, motivation and attitude, and then opportunities will happen."

It's important to take control of aptitude, motivation and attitude now, Gaylor said. "Wouldn't it be a shame if your door opened and you weren't ready? The door may never open again."

Gaylor has had many achievements in life, but he doesn't share his story to brag. Gaylor said he shares his story to let Airmen know there is a future Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force out there, and it could be anyone.

"Your name is waiting to be called," he said. "Usually it happens when you least expect it."