MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- First and foremost, thank you for your leadership, for holding the line, inspiring our Airmen, and educating them on the importance of preserving our culture and upholding our high standards. Our combat effectiveness and lethality depend on attention to the details and strict adherence to our core values.
It starts with us; we will be the example. We will not wait on the Air Force to fix this or that; we will fix it. We absolutely own this; it is our responsibility to maintain standards and a culture of excellence.
The Easy Stuff to Model: If you wear an unauthorized item on your uniform, fix it. If your uniform is screaming for help due to the pressure it is under, fix it. The OCPs are multi-cam, but they aren’t supposed to be “two-toned,” so fix it. We should all take pride in our nation’s cloth; if you don’t, fix it. The Department of the Air Force Instruction says this, but you do “that,” fix it. You know the standard, but you don’t enforce it because you disagree, fix it. Professionally and tactfully demand the same out of every other leader. Those we have been entrusted to lead and inspire deserve it, and the 350 million Americans deserve it.
Do They Really Know: We have all heard it, maybe even said it, “The NCOs just aren’t holding people accountable; they seem scared to say something…” Well, is that fair, is that even true? Have you ensured that they know what the standard is? Have you coached them on how to properly address standard violations? Have you supported them when they properly and professionally held someone accountable? It is not the Air Force’s responsibility to teach and coach them. That is not what Airman leadership School, or any other Professional Military Education is for. Those courses should be validating, supporting, and building on what you have already been teaching them. We own this! There were a lot of Airmen First Class, Senior Airmen, and Staff Sgt's, Tech Sgt's that became NCOs and SNCOs during COVID that missed out on a lot of coaching and mentorship in these areas, let’s fix it.
Challenge Your Formation: For example, challenge your formation to do a “3-5 min presentation” on a specific DAFI or standard. In a galaxy far, far away and before airplanes… I was running a shop. I made a roster of AFIs, and had the team choose one of those AFIs and a specific section to brief to the shop. It educated them on the standards, and it boosted their confidence in other areas. I know that you are leading in this space, and I challenge us all to model and demand excellence!
Bottom Line: We set the example and hold the line. Don’t walk by a problem; we are brilliant at the basics. We do not operate as individuals; we are a team, a family. This is our profession, and across our formation of uniformed and non-uniformed Airmen alike, we will do what is right. Standards go far beyond dress and appearance; they are integral to our everyday mission operations. Every little detail matters; we cannot afford to be complacent. Let’s educate as needed, hold each other accountable, receive feedback well, and operate as a synchronized force.
I am proud of you all and honored to have the opportunity to serve with you, let’s keep getting after it!