Rhoades' Conditions – Meet the new 910th Command Chief Master Sergeant...Troy K. Rhoades Published Feb. 11, 2008 By Senior Airman Ann Wilkins Jefferson 910th Airlift Wing Public Affairs YOUNGSTOWN AIR RESERVE STATION, Ohio -- On New Year's Day 2008, when people worldwide made personal resolutions, the date marked the 910th Airlift Wing's assignment of a new command chief master sergeant: Chief Master Sgt. Troy Keith Rhoades. He has not a personal vow but a declaration for the whole wing: "To take responsibility, dedication and accountability of positions we hold - it's not about the individual unit but what's best for the wing." Chief Rhoades said it was a personal goal to career progress to a command chief position, so when the opportunity came at the 910th, the native of Andover in Ashtabula County, Ohio, said, "There was no better time to apply, since it is my home unit and I felt a kinship here." He didn't officially take over until outgoing Command Chief Robert Glus Sr. retired Feb. 1, 2008. "Chief Glus has been a great voice and has done a wonderful job. His retirement was an opportunity for someone to continue those efforts and bring new ideas." Previously, Chief Rhoades worked at AFRC headquarters as the Security Forces manager for all Security Forces in the Air Force Reserve from July 2006 through December 2007. As the command chief, Chief Rhoades, who stands tall and broad-shouldered, said his responsibilities are to monitor the enlisted force, work with the First Sergeants and the Chiefs Group, and "to not stay behind a desk all the time." One of his goals is to meet with units, not just here, but if the opportunity arises while they're deployed, too. "I was in Security Forces so many years, (now) I need to get out and see what everybody does: how I can help in their shops, what do I need to look at or concentrate on? ... We can gain strength through 22nd Air Force, AFRC and Washington, D.C. So if you have concerns and issues, bring those to me through your chain of command. If I can help, I will." The command chief said he and Col. Karl McGregor, 910th Airlift Wing commander, have an open and direct path between them. "I believe we're on the same page with the direction of the 910th: We have an outstanding wing with outstanding people wanting to do an outstanding job. "We're not yesterday's traditional Reserve. Now we're a force where two days a month (plus 15 days of Annual Tour) is the minimum. It's more of a commitment. Many do go above and beyond. But for those who can't because of time, distance, family obligations, I still expect them to perform at their highest when they do serve." Looking through the enlisted ranks, the chief noted the different levels of strength and responsibilities. First sergeants and chiefs are positions the chief doesn't take lightly, since "they are the voices at the unit level." He said he is going to rely on Recruiting and Public Affairs to spread the word about the Air Force Reserve and the 910th in the community. He'll also work with the local Chamber of Commerce, Base Community Council, and be a representative for ESGR. The chief said working at AFRC was a great opportunity for him to see the pluses and minuses at other units and wings. He also spent four to five weeks at the Pentagon on two separate occasions working directly on Air Force Reserve, AFRC and joint service operations. "I believe that has provided me with a wide view of the entire picture, and I hope that will help with local issues here at YARS." He also said he wants people to know in his previous position at AFRC he had the misfortune of dealing with BRAC bases, which he explains were business decisions, not about whether the people on base did their jobs well enough. With that in mind, Chief Rhoades said the 910th should never take for granted the opportunities it has here, nor that "the 910th is like active duty where we own the base and the resources that come with it, a huge advantage at Youngstown unlike a tenant or associate unit. I also had the opportunity to see other organizations that are just as good or better at times than we are, that we can benchmark off." Chief Rhoades joined the Air Force Reserve in September 1983. After basic training and technical school, he came to the 910th in March 1984, serving in Security Forces the entire time until he left for AFRC in June 2006. A graduate of Youngstown State University, he has a bachelor's degree in Industrial Marketing, which required extra classes regarding sales of industrial products. "I came into the AF Reserve wanting to be a cop, but in college I fell in love with the sales and marketing life. Yet I wanted to continue military life - I'm patriotic and have a love of the Security Forces AFSC. It was my hobby, but it ended up transforming my life." As a civilian, he was putting his degree to use at FirstEnergy Corporation in Akron, an electric company. "But after 9/11, I noticed security issues at the company and started asking questions. As a country, 9/11 impacted not only us as Americans but also affected businesses and how they do business. We no longer took things for granted such as security. So what I did in the Reserve was a great crossover into the corporate world." Discussions began between FirstEnergy and Chief Rhoades on improving the office security policy through his knowledge from military training. Yet before anything occurred, the Air Force sent him on a two-year mobilization. When he returned from that tour in September 2003, the chief said he worked one day in the marketing department at FirstEnergy, and then started his current job. "I'm the Manager of Physical Security for the entire company, covering the Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey region - no marketing anymore!" "In this situation my mobilization and participation in Security Forces led to an opportunity in my career field to take this 'hobby' and apply it to my civilian career. I hope when people (Reservists) come out to the base, they're not just going through the motions but gaining experience for life." Chief Rhoades deployment lasted from February 2002 through September 2003. He started out in Al Udeid AB in Qatar for six months as the Security Forces manager for the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, Al Udeid Air Base, working with active duty leadership and responsible for 380 Security Forces members. During his time in Kuwait the following six months, Chief Rhoades worked with a joint services vulnerability task force for an Army commander. He was attached to the Army on special assignment with Coalition Forces Land Component Command in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, working in Operation Protection. Their primary responsibility was to review, develop, advise and enforce Force Protection issues at all U.S. and coalition forces installations in Kuwait, via land, air and sea. Then, after the war kicked off, they went up to Baghdad and provided the same assessment in Iraq for the last six months of his deployment. The chief acknowledged the value the Reserve side provides to the active duty side: "It's not just in Iraq or Afghanistan, it's in Germany, and California - anywhere active duty is, all over the world. Many join the Reserve for a variety of reasons - family, GI Bill, patriotism, additional income, education - all come with benefits," he continued. "But at the end of the day ... all of us, no matter what AFSC, need to prepare mentally and physically in the event we're called to active duty service. As members we have our own expectations of our career field and the Reserve. Secondly, question yourself sometime why you joined and why do you continue to stay in?" Chief Rhoades said those on active duty don't always understand the Reserve, that it's not just a weekend a month but that Reservists are people who do two jobs at once: the Reserve and their civilian jobs. "When I was stationed at Al Udeid AB, the active duty command chief continually leaned on me - never once did conversation come across about me being a Reservist. When he found out I was, he said 'I never would have thought that because of the way you handle yourself.' So don't let us use 'Reservist' as a crutch. We do the same job as active duty and many of us came off active duty, we've just chosen a different path. "Many of us do the same thing in the civilian world, just in a different hat, shirt, uniform, etc. We may be working for Boeing or Lockheed. We have additional goals - always be proud of being a 'Citizen Airman.'" And he said Airmen should always be recognizing their fellow armed services for what they do. When he's not working, Chief Rhoades likes to read for enjoyment, travel, golf and spend time with his wife of 16 years, Christine, a Boardman native who works for St. Elizabeth Hospital as Director/Physician Liaison.