TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --
In the United States Air Force, it has always been the branch’s obligation to take an individual, break them down and build them back up. These people then go on to be some of the Air Force’s greatest leaders.
This is especially true for Senior Master Sgt. Max Walker, 43d Aircraft Maintenance Unit assistant superintendent, who was selected among 530 other Airmen to promote to the rank of chief master sergeant.
Born and raised in Houston, he always had big dreams just like any other young adult trying to tackle the world. Before joining, Walker attended college for two years and worked with the National Broadcasting Company during the Olympics in 1996. He also worked at his local Gap Inc. clothing store where he met his wife of 18 years, Tracie Walker, with whom he has two children, his son Shelton 13, and daughter Callie 10.
His Air Force story began at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., as an assistant crew chief working on the mighty Fighting Falcon F-16.
“My leadership would always tell me that in order to be successful you need to have your toolbox checked out and on the line ready for work before roll call, and get to work before everyone else and stay until everyone else leaves,” Walker said. “And that’s exactly what I did, I did that to the best of my abilities.”
It wasn’t long before Walker met his first chief master sergeant face to face, Chief Master Sgt. Gerald Jenkins, who made sure to put things in perspective for Walker.
“I remember Chief Jenkins,” Walker said. “He stood at 5’11” and 280 pounds and he ruled the flight line with an iron fist, but he cared about his people, and the way he cared about us made me want to be just like him. I think it also translated a lot better when I walked into his shop with a shaving waiver and he proceeded to rip it in half. I have never had a shaving waiver since.”
The message Chief Jenkins wanted to convey to Walker was the importance of uniformity and discipline. It was then that Walker knew he wanted to be just like the Chief.
While on that path Walker soon found himself as the lead candidate in his unit for early promotion under the Senior Airman below-the-zone program. Walker would miss the opportunity but learned a valuable lesson. Though it was short-lived due to a period of “complacency” he had to wait the additional six months to sew on.
“My leadership humbled me, and helped me realize that I wasn’t just out there representing myself but I was also representing the Air Force, and my squadron at all times -- a team,” Walker said.
With this revelation in mind, he gained a renewed respect for what it means to serve in the military, and with hard work and dedication Walker was selected for the rank of staff sergeant. His hard work and dedication would not go unnoticed, his supervisor envisioned a future for Walker with the elite aircraft maintenance team of the United States Air Force Thunderbirds.
Unsure if he was up to the task, Walker required a small push from his leadership to start the next chapter in his career. “Before I knew it, I was putting together a package to become a crew chief with the Thunderbirds with the help of my supervisor Master Sgt. Shepherd,” Walker said. “I ended up making the team and chosen for show line two years in a row for aircraft number four and number six.”
From 2000 to 2003, Walker served with the Thunderbirds and would go on to perform air shows every weekend with a team of 90 to 110 members, all of whom came from various other Air Force Specialty Codes such as logistics, finance specialist and even public affairs.
“I could always remember standing out there watching the demonstrations,” Walker said. “I was looking good, feeling good and standing tall, realizing that this was the best place to be. Never forgetting that working effectively as a team is what helped us get all six of those jets in the air.”
Walker continued his mission for success as he transitioned into becoming a Military Training Instructor at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, now known as Joint Base San Antonio.
As an MTI, Walker would have an opportunity to mold the very future of the Air Force
“Master Sgt. Henry Parker III was the one who helped me understand as a staff sergeant what my roles were, and why it was so important” Walker said.
Walker recalled an early conversation during his time as a military training instructor that stuck with him ever since.
Walker was approached by Master Sgt. Parker who asked him ‘Walker how long is it going to take for you to get it right as a TI?’ Walker retorted with: ‘Well it might take me around the second or third flight maybe even my fourth, by then I’ll be solid.’
But Parker stated sternly with: ‘No, you’re going to get it right by the time that first flight hits the door because you don’t have the opportunity to wait and get it right. If you don’t do your job, then you’ll have 40 to 60 people with a shaky foundation for their Air Force careers.’
So for four years Walker worked over 13 hours a day to build every trainee that walked through his door. His hard work culminated in 2005 when he became a Master Military Instructor “Blue Rope”, and later was selected for the rank of technical Sergeant.
“The satisfaction of being a MTI was rewarding enough, my family on the other hand wasn’t exactly thrilled with me being a TI for four years,” Walker stated. “The Air Force mission side of things was done, but my family side was suffering.”
Walker thought that he was giving so much to the military that he wasn’t taking care of the foundation of his family; it was at this point he realized not only did he have to be an NCO, but also a better husband.
After completing his tour as an MTI, Walker faced a new challenged in the form of a restricted unaccompanied assignment to South Korea.
“It took me going to Korea in order for me and my wife to become closer again,” Walker said, “Since I was gone to Korea for an entire year that separation made us both realize how important it was to be together. We talked and bonded until we became one again.”
“While in Korea I took every chance I had to strengthen my spiritual foundation. I got better at what I do, my faith got stronger and I continued to develop professionally,” he added.
Walker’s next destination on his journey brought him to Langley Air Force Base, Va., now known as Joint Base Langley-Eustis, in May 2009. His story will continue with new challenges that await him and will be featured in the part two of this series.