Take care of one another: command chief's parting words

Published May 4, 2012
By Ann Skarban
302nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- In the wing's C-130 aircraft maintenance hangar filled with more than 300 family, friends and colleagues, 302nd Airlift Wing Command Chief Master Sgt. Suzette Cherry ended her 25-year U.S. Air Force career on Saturday of the April Unit Training Assembly. In the retirement ceremony held on April 14, Cherry told those in attendance, "The Air Force Core Values will serve you well throughout your entire life."

Cherry began her career as an airman basic assigned as an Air Passenger Specialist in the 616th Aerial Port Squadron, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. She transitioned from active duty into the Air Force Reserve in 1991 with an assignment to the 66th Aerial Port Squadron, McClellan Air Force Base, Calif. before moving to Colorado where she later cross-trained into space operations and personnel career fields.

Cherry comes from a military family. Her father, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Ernest W. Rickenbacker II was an Army helicopter pilot and also a distant cousin of Maj. Eddie Rickenbacker, an American fighter ace in World War I and Medal of Honor recipient. "Everyone wore combat boots in my family. I am the only enlisted and the only female to make the Air Force a career," she said.

The Wing command chief master sergeant recalls the day her father, dropped her off at the Military Entrance Processing Station in Montgomery, Ala. "Knowing I would be wearing the uniform, he said to me, 'Wear it with pride and wear it properly.'" Throughout her career, Cherry took her father's request to heart.

Cherry recalls her promotion to chief master sergeant where she reminded her father of the day he took her to MEPS some 20 years prior. As a new chief master sergeant wearing her uniform with precision, as he pinned on her chief stripes, she asked her father, "What do you think, Dad, do I look ok?" Cherry's father passed away in September of 2008. Cherry deeply missed her father at her retirement ceremony. "I wish he was here for this," she reflected. Cherry's father's best friend and fellow retired Army helicopter pilot Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael Knapp officiated. "I am proud to have him here," said Cherry.

In his comments just before Cherry's retirement order was presented, Knapp said of Cherry, "Your philosophy has always been simple; you always did your very best at every task, assigned or assumed. You always treated everyone with dignity and respect. You have always put the needs of your Airmen and your country first. You live the Air Force Core Values. You embody the Airman's Creed!"

Throughout her career Cherry had been inspired by the lessons and examples of her supervisors and leaders. One supervisor especially stands out, "Master Sgt. Mitch Hale was my first Noncommissioned Officer in Charge. He set the example for me," said Cherry. She then told the story about Hale "fiddling" with his ribbons one day. As a young Airman, noticing it took extra effort to wear his ribbons, she said to Hale, "Why do you wear those when you don't have to?" He replied, "I'm a senior NCO!" "That stuck in my head," said Cherry recalling her first mentor.

That same supervisor taught Cherry the important lesson of staying with your team until the job is done. Cherry recalls a cold, snowy night at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska where she was given the assignment of shoveling snow from the arrival red carpet area for an unannounced, incoming distinguished visitor. "I was shoveling when I heard the scrape of a second shovel. I turned around, and it was Hale. It wasn't his responsibility. He was the NCOIC, it wasn't his job to shovel snow," she said. She recalls asking Hale what he was doing working during the second shift and he replied, "I am here with my Airmen, until the job gets done." This lesson also stuck with Cherry throughout her career and shaped the type of Airman and leader she had become.

Of her many career achievements, Cherry is most proud of being the first female to certify in the system crew chief position for the Space Based Infrared System as a senior master sergeant, traditional Air Force Reservist. Cherry offers advice to her fellow female Airmen, "Carry your own weight and you will be respected for your capabilities."

As she departs the Wing, Cherry asks that the members of the Wing "Take care of each other and watch out for one another."

For Cherry, she says she sees the importance of the Air Force Core Values and noted that they are more evident to her now after experiencing 25 years. She said, "You cannot go wrong [by living the Air Force Core Values]," And that, "the right decision is not always the easiest."

Finishing her career as a traditional Reservist Cherry is familiar with the delicate and sometimes difficult balance of family, civilian career and Reserve career. She fully admits, "It is tough to balance it all. It is not always easy, but just because you hit one rough patch, don't give it up. Talk to your supervisors - both civilian and Air Force Reserve, and see if you can make an adjustment. Sometimes we try to do it all - we try to be strong and we really need to ask for help," she said.

Summarizing her career and finally her time as the 302nd AW Command Chief Master Sgt. Cherry said, "This has been an honor and a wonderful experience." Cherry looks forward to finally having just one full-time job and spending time with her husband motorcycle and horseback riding. Cherry said she also already has what would be her future UTA weekends filled, "I am planning to volunteer at Dream Catcher Equestrian Rescue in Pueblo," she said. "And, maybe I'll even get a chance to relax a little."