MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- Many times in our careers we ask why we don’t get information from the top down or why we only get to see or hear what senior leadership has to say when we see or read in media outlets. I thought I would take a few moments and share with you what I recently learned from Air Force senior leadership.
I recently attended a course where the 22nd CSAF, Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., and the 19th CMSAF, Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force JoAnne S. Bass, provided attendees a view from their perspective. I would like to share some of that experience with you all.
Chief Bass discussed many different topics with us during the course. Some of the topics she spoke about were the importance of balancing our spiritual, mental, physical, and social lives. As well as the challenges we face, focusing on the “long-game,” General Brown’s Action Orders, and the Air Force Culture.
Chief Bass asked us to go back to the “little brown” (AFI 36-2618) and “little blue” (AFI 1-1) books to remind us of some of our core competencies and standards. Chief Bass encouraged us to connect our Airmen’s talents to the needs of the Air Force. Finally, she asked us to look at the culture in our Wings and reinforce diversity, inclusion, and respect.
General Brown also spoke to us about his priorities and thoughts on leadership. General Brown reminded us of his action orders on developing our Airmen and trusting them to do their jobs. He also encouraged us to look at bureaucracy and cutting down on our decision making time. General Brown reminded us to look to see where we are at and where we need to be in relation to our adversaries, and asked us where we, the Air Force, want to be in 2030-2040.
Here are a few comments he made on leadership. General Brown told us we have to be able to lead ourselves before we could lead others, know what you’re good at and what you’re not good at, get varied perspectives from our members, understand where we are going and why are we going there, build positive relationships; we have to empower Airmen to continue innovating, and to find the “frozen middle” and crush it.
All of General Brown’s words point directly toward his strategic approach of “Accelerate Change or Lose.”
In closing, I would like for you to consider the information I have passed along to you and see where you and your Airmen fit into the big picture. You should have the ability to map you and your Airmen’s jobs all the way back to where it fits into the priorities of the SECAF, CSAF, and your local commander. Take a few moments to review the National Defense Strategy, National Security Strategy, and any other documents that will help clarify the importance of your job, your position, and your “why” in relation to the Air Force. I look forward to continued service with you and am always available to discuss these and other topics with you. “Readiness in Strength”