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Show 2 July?, 1992 Hilltop Times Chief looks to take care of AF people by SSgt. Barbara Fisher Hilltop Times staff Name You can often tell a lot about people by their surroundings. In the case of CMSgt. John Brewer, that's of especially true. His office is warm and friendly with little touches home added to the wooden desk chairs that you stick to when you standard-issu- e and straight-bacsit there more than five minutes. On his desk sits a family portrait with wife, Nancy, and two sons, Darby, 22, and Trevor, 21. Nancy's the one who provided the extras that invite you to linger and chat with the Ogden Air Logistics Center's senior enlisted advisor. v And that's what he wants you to do, too talk with him. Whether it's about a problem you can't get resolved through your chain of command or just k discuss what you think of the new name patch on the battle dress uniform (he thinks it will make it tougher to recognize officers), Brewer will listen. He understands when you say that all the change in the Air Force now is a little ovemhelming or that the assignment you've got halfway around the world could have waited until the school year was over. He's been there. But in his 23 years of moves from the desert heat of Edwards AFB, Calif., to the freezing chill of AFB, Alaska, to the cultural shock of Gerhe's never once thought of doing anything many, ' else. ; " I ' ve liked every assignment I 've ever had, " he , . , , said. "I've just liked some better than others." The key, he says, was his family. "We've done this all together," he said. "My kids don't have a hometown; they're Air Force brats. We've been traveling for 23 years." That travel hasn't always been easy either. He his family's way for the move to Germany in paid 1970 on his $3,30O-a-yesalary. Back then, airmen ar his rank didn't receive command-sponsore- d moves of their families. "We were poverty stricken," he said of of Birthday June 1, 1949 Hometown Tawas City, Mich. Education Graduated from Tawas Area High School, Tawas City, Mich., 1967; associate degree, administration, Community College of the Air Force, 1978; bachelor's degree, management, Chapman College, 1982; associate degree, human resource management, CCAF, 1985; master's degree, human resource management, Golden State University, 1987. to El-mend- CMSgt. John A. Brewer Duty Title Senior Enlisted Advisor, Ogden Air Logistics Center Hf't '.J... V Command Leadership School, 1973; NCO Academy, 1974; Senior NCO Academy, 1983. Previous Air Force Assignments Keesler AFB; Raco, Mich.; Rhein-MaiGermany; Edwards AFB, Calif.; Dover AFB, Del.; Elmendorf AFB, Alaska; Luke AFB, Ariz.; Lakenheath, England; Hill-AFB- , Utah. Previous Air Force Experience Command Management Effectiveness Evaluation Team member; first sergeant, 1983, Luke AFB, Lakenheath, Hill AFB. Family Wife, Nancy, and two sons: Darby, 22, and Trevor, 21. v - sor. He says he'll be working closely with Hill's Chiefs Group and First Sergeants Association. "I kind of see myself as a troubleshooter," he said.. it was great." "When things don't work or (first sergeants, During his Air Force years, the chief has received chiefs) run into problems theythey can't resolve, then numerous personal awards. He was nominated as I can them network to fix the hopefully help one of the 12 Outstanding Airmen of the year by Alaskan Air Command; he completed his bachelor's problem." That goes for any enlisted person. degree; he was promoted to master sergeant under "If you don't know how to solve a problem and the Stripes for Exceptional Performers program. taken it to everyone you can think of in your you've None of these mean as much as the three awards I want to be part of that chain," he said. "If chain, his family received in three different commands as you come to me and I can't fix it either, at least I Family of the Year. can go to my boss." "The key to success is to align Air Force goals Brewer's boss is Maj. Gen. Dale W. Thompson Jr., with family goals," he said. the Ogden AFLC commander, who picked him to That means doing a good job every day, he says, CMSgt. C. Thomas Moeglein, who retired afand looking beyond the immediate job to what's replace 30 years in the Air Force. ter needed to improve the base, the Air Force or the lo"I believe in the chain of command, but I think cal community. a point in time when you have to come up there's "The most important job you'll have in your life here and ask. We can go to the level it takes to either is the job you're sitting in right now," he said. "You the rules or resolve the problem." change need to bloom where you're planted." . The only problem might be catching him in his Almost 10 years ago, the chief says he got the job comfortable office. Since he took over as senior en' he considers the best in the Air Force that of a listed advisor, he's been the myriad first sergeant. He was the first sergeant for the of meetings on Hill and busy attending out to as many of getting 2849th Security Police Squadron until he accepted the shops and offices he can. his current position as senior enlisted advisor less He goes to the meetings, he says, to gather inforthan three months ago. mation and build on his network to fix problems. He It's his background a3 a first sergeant that he visits the shops and offices to meet everyone and hopes will make him successful as an enlisted advi-- to listen. years they spent living the German economy. "It could have been a bad assignment, but I thought ' according to education services and military training officials. College credit and CLEP information is free at the education office at Hill AFB. Hilltop Times Published by MorMedia, Inc., a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive written contract with Hill AFB. This commercial enterprise ' Air Force newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. military services. Contents of the Hilltop Times are not necessarily the official views of. or endorsed by, the U.S. government, the Department of Defense or the Department of the Air Force. ..V n, the two False information adverlicnd ,1. Professional Military Education Technical training at Keesler AFB, Miss., 1969; seven-leve- l training, Postal and Courier Service, 1972; Headquarters on There is a company in the area advertising college level entrance program, CLEP, study information for sale. What is really being sold are encyclopedias, t News Briefs Anyone who is approached or who has recently signed a contract for a service of this kind should contact the education office for more information. Education office extensions are or The appearance of advertisements in thi9 nuhliratinn including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of.the Air Force or MorMedia, Inc. of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age. marital status, physical handicap, pob'tical affiliation or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the Ogden Air Logistics Centar Pubfic-AffaiOffice staff, Bldg. 1102, Room 118. Ext. 77321. Unless otherwise indicated, all photos are U.S. Air Force photos. rs "People really know what they need," he said. "It's up to us to provide them the resources to get it done." n To illustrate his point, he uses the story of a manager who only has a toolbox with a hammer in it to work with. . "Everything starts looking like a nail to him,'' Brewer said. "But if he has a lot of tools in his toolbox, he can fix a lot of things, much easier. "If I can find a way to get people the resources they need so they can do the job, they'll do it. Most of the time, the only reason they didn't solve the problem is because nobody gave them the tools to get it done." The chief says he hasn't thought of retiring yet; he's aiming for 30 years. "I'm already a lot farther than I ever thought I would be," he said. "I like this job; it was a pinna, cle to get it." He says he doesn't know where his career will take him in the future, but he hopes it's related to the job he always carries close to his heart. Actually it's under the pocket flap on his shirt -a miniature diamond of a first sergeant. "These are the good old days," he said. "What we have to do is manage the change that is coming down so we can do the best for our people. If we're going to have less people, we'd better take good care of them." Sfill time to buy bonds Savings bond campaign officials have announced that the current bond drive has been extended two weeks. It will end July 15. Call Marilyn Dean, Ext. for information or the name and phone number of your organiza tion s Dona representative. Hill AFB Editorial Staff: Maj. Gen. Dale W. Thompson Jr Ma. Wade J. Habshey GearY "0,d SSgt. Barbara Fisher Frances Kosakowsky, Jay Joersz Commander, OO-AL- C Director, Public Affairs Editor Assistant editor '.Staff writers Deadlines: Editorial and "Around the Hill" items, 3 p.m. Tuesday, nine days before publication; sports articles, 9 a.m. Monday, week of publication; classified ads, noon Tuesday, mor in,orma,ion' co" ,hl di,or' Ex,, mwnsn'0"' f' |