SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --
U.S. Air Force Chief
Master Sgt. Christopher McKinney, 20th Fighter Wing command chief,
started a series of mentorship visits at elementary schools near Shaw Air Force
Base, South Carolina, March 1.
Before McKinney even arrived
at Shaw, he made the decision to make an impact on the local community.
“God put it on my heart
to leverage the office of which I am a steward, to reach out into the local
community to help empower people,” said McKinney. “There are so many people
that have poured into my life, mentored me and guided me, that I have a sacred
obligation to do the same.”
Students from F.J.
Delaine Elementary in Wedgefield, S.C. and Rafting Creek Elementary in Rembert,
S.C. learned what it means to be extraordinary by understanding excellence.
McKinney encouraged the students to follow his personal list of excellence.
Read every day, work
hard every day, be honest, be helpful to others, and be respectful. If you
learn these fundamentals you will succeed in everything you set out to do,
McKinney said.
Shaw’s top enlisted
leader also set out to teach the students to believe in themselves.
“We have too many kids
who grow up in economically depressed areas and as a result they may not see a
way to break the cycle,” said McKinney, “which in turn may cause a child to
under-value education, which only perpetuates the problem.”
McKinney told the
students about how mentorship changed his life after having his fair share of
mistakes throughout his childhood.
“When I was in seventh
grade, two teachers who didn’t look anything like me said something that
changed the trajectory of my life,” said Mckinney. “They basically told me that
I was not living up to my potential and that they saw so much more in me.”
Just as was he
influenced to reach his potential at school, the 20th FW CCC wanted
to inspire and encourage students to do the same.
“Our students responded
to Chief McKinney’s visit with enthusiasm and loads of questions,” said Ida
Barboza, Rafting Creek Elementary School principal. “It is so important for
them to be constantly motivated and encouraged, not only by their teachers but
by others outside of our school community as well. Chief McKinney’s message was a valuable one
that supports what we persistently strive to instill in our students.”
The chief hopes to
re-visit the schools each month to develop relationships with the children and
also encourage Team Shaw leaders to do the same.
“The intent is to lead
from the front and encourage other Air Force and Army service members to share
their talent and experiences in our local schools. I firmly believe that if
each one of us invests a little time, we can reshape the culture and empower
people.”
As McKinney continues
to encourage and mentor the children, he plans to speak to the students about the
“road to destiny,” specifically about how input determines thoughts, during his
next visits.