Commentary - Culture of correcting standards

News > Commentary - Culture of correcting standards

Culture of correcting standards

Posted 8/2/2011

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Commentary by Chief Master Sgt. Brian Randolph
46th Test Wing command chief master sergeant

8/2/2011 - EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) -- Do our Airmen set and correct standards on a day-to-day basis? In the Air Force, do we have the culture of correcting standards?

I think we do a great job in correcting each other with regard to our specific career field tasks. However, we don't do a very good job at correcting standards that make us good Airmen. Proper Airmanship is correcting each other about things such as "your sideburns are too long," "take your sunglasses off the top of your head," "tuck your PT shirt in," "why didn't you pay proper respect to the flag," and so on.

I expect NCOs and senior NCOs to correct these standard violations. I especially expect us to set a standard for our subordinates to correct standard violations.

These "good" Airmanship standards may seem trivial or unimportant, but nothing could be further from the truth. If we can't count on our Airmen to follow these seemingly small standards, how can we, as leaders, count on them to follow the big rules?

If we can't count on each other to make the right decision on a small "Airmanship" standard, how can we count on each other to make the right decision when it's a big decision -- when lives could be at stake? The simple answer is, we can't.

When we see a group of Airmen together and one of them is out of standard, we should correct that individual. We should also confront the most senior in the group and counsel that individual as well for not doing what is expected. This will go a long way in promoting the culture of correcting standards.

I often ask Airman leadership school and NCO academy students, "Who has more authority: an Army E-6, Marine E-6 or an Air Force E-6?" Most of the time, someone says the Army or Marine E-6 has more authority. Why do our Air Force NCOs think NCOs from other branches of the military have more authority? It's because over time, we chose not to use the authority given us by our commanders and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Every time we choose to walk by, ignore or push up to the next level something we should correct ourselves, we are eroding or even giving away our authority.

There is a problem when our NCOs don't think they have the authority to correct standards. We have to fix this. It's partly our fault as senior enlisted leaders. If we have not given our expectations to our junior NCOs to correct others and use their authority, we have contributed to their lack of the culture of correcting standards.

Retired Gen. Gregory Martin, the former Air Force Materiel Command commander, said if we see a discrepancy or problem "we are obligated to fix it." We have to tell our NCOs we expect them to correct others. We have to have their backs when they do. We have to show them how to confront and correct. We have to show them how to correct with compassion and authority, without necessarily coming off the top rope (so to speak).

The bottom line is, we have to stop giving our authority away. We must set the expectation of allowing our subordinate Airmen to correct each other and their subordinates.

When our E-4s have the mindset to take care of themselves and the enlisted Airmen below them and our E-3s have the mindset to take care of themselves and all E-2s and E-1s below them, we will be on our way to improving the culture of correcting standards.

Comments

8/16/2011 9:43:18 PM ET
I sure hope those reflective belts aren't being worn where people might be using them for aiming points. Just saying.

Ret MSgt, St. Paul MN

8/13/2011 9:38:16 AM ET
That's right Chief. And when I see an airman or a junior enlisted member correct an officer without respect for rank, I stop them in their tracks stand THEM at attention and read them the riot act. It happens A LOT. You wouldn't believe some of the clown-act airmen I've seen correcting standards. It's like they have no SA on where they are when it is appropriate or how to show proper customs and courtesy. Please continue to ensure your own house is squared away before you start correcting mine.

C, NJ

8/12/2011 4:16:08 PM ET
Why do our Air Force NCOs think NCOs from other branches of the military have more authority? Is it because over time we chose not to use the authority given us by our commanders and the Uniform Code of Military Justice? No, it's because the Air Force primarily consists of non-combatant desk jockeys who have nothing more to worry about in a combat zone than looking sharp and when the Green Beans Coffee shop is going to be open. Their biggest concern is making sure you have a reflective belt on while the Army and Marine Corps NCOs have the responsibility of leading their personnel into harm's way and ensuring they have the proper training, motivation, and materials to return safely from the mission. Those Army and Marine NCOs that are FOB bound also have that warrior ethos instilled in them. The vast majority of Air Force NCOs do not have the warrior ethos. They are not war fighters. They are technicians and clerks and they view themselves as such. And why not?

Retired AFSOC MSgt, Florida

8/12/2011 3:14:34 PM ET
I think we all can agree that doing the right thing, big OR small, when no one is looking is called integrity, a cornerstone of military service. However, sometimes we need to be reminded when we are overlooking a detail. In my 24 years, the majority of the time the individual was unaware of the discrepancy. Those cases when they were aware they were either cutting corners or being lazy because they just didnt care. Both situations and their reaction when confronted spoke volumes about that individual. The AF does an excellent job with AFSC training but it is incumbent upon US LEADERS to instill the Profession of Arms. If we want to be known as professionals then we must act as professionals. We don't only act when it's convenient. We ALWAYS act and leaders don't ignore details. To do so condones the behavior and a pattern for future mediocrity. We are grooming leaders not wage earners. If that's not your mission then please find a new line of work, just not the AF.

AF Chief, All over

8/12/2011 3:11:47 PM ET
DC MD, I don't think you understand the Maj's. And you are absolutely wrong for assuming he is a poor officer based on two comments posted here. Let me ask you this: If you were at Bagram at the onset of OEF, would you critique maintainers or aircrew with messy hair or out-of-regs sideburns? How about if you were at the Korengal COP? In either case the answer is likely no. The answer would be no because you would be based at a time and location where you were directly contributing to the fight and your priorities would shift accordingly. As these wars have gone on we have transitioned from an expeditionary mindset to one where many think we should have all the comforts from home at our deployed locations. BL, we have too many people deployed that don't have a direct contribution to the mission. They get bored and decide that their job will be to insure everyone is within regs. I don't think my contribution to this argument will change your thinking at all but y ...

J, CONUS

8/11/2011 11:31:00 PM ET
DC in MD, you just don't get it. Big things are more important than small things. Correct the small things only after the big ones are all squared away. The problem with this article and the attitude of Chiefs in general is the obsession about the small insignificant items when I know for a fact there are bigger issues senior leaders should be worrying about. When ATOC can't get a load to an aircraft on time or a Chief won't let one of my guys grab food to go during an intermediate stop on an 20 hour day or SF stops aircrew on the flightline without a reflective belt when they are launching to respond to a TIC.... all that indicates a force that cannot get the big things right. Pilots and operators are tired of being lectured about things that don't affect the mission by the same people who can't give us support for big things that cause missions to fail.

AFSOC pilot, HRT

8/11/2011 3:53:58 PM ET
I was suprised by some of the opinions on this commentary, especially those of Maj SWA. I also had a hard time understanding why people were getting wrapped around the buzz word of Airmanship. Using a definition from Webster's Dictionary completely misses the point, that you are defining the "lower case a" kind of airmanship. If you define Airman-ship, it is the skills necessary to be an Airman with a capital A. Not the skills to hang bombs on aircraft or to fix light-all units and definitely not the skills needed to make sure your buttons are buttoned and you are wearing the reflective belt that is mandatory. Airman-ship is ALL of those things. Every single thing we do makes us Airmen. It's not just the BIG things. It's the small things as well. We wear a uniform and represent not only our unit but our service and our country. If you ever wear your uniform to the airport when you go to deploy you even represent the ENTIRE UNITED STATES MILITARY. Civilians are not able to...

SMSgt S, Randolph

8/11/2011 2:23:48 PM ET
DC, why would you say "Obviously you focus only on the big things" when I stated in my post that we should correct big things and small things? My point is that senior enlisted leaders seem narrowly focused on small things and ignore big things. Example: small thing -- wearing of five-toe shoes warrants immediate correction despite no reason for them being disallowed. big thing -- DFAC (dining facility) no longer provides meals for aircrew who are away from a DFAC for 16 hours. Chief says that's the rules and refuses to engage DFAC manager.

Maj, SWA

8/10/2011 1:56:47 PM ET
Obviously you focus only on the big things regardless of the corners that are cut. Feel free to continue on the unprofessional path you have chosen and let the true leaders take care of the small things to make sure the big things are done correctly. You say you don't understand the infatuation senior enlisted have with the small things. You could probably fill a book with the things you don't understand. Your view is the polar opposite of excellence in ALL we do.

DC, MD

8/9/2011 4:13:28 PM ET
Paul in Afghanistan: a command was not stood up because people got lax on the little things. It was stood up because people didn't do the big things like checklist discipline. They didn't fly nukes across the country unknowingly because their sideburns were too long. Not adhering to the little things may be an indicator that the big things are not being accomplished but don't confuse the two. If there are problems with the big things, correct them. If there are problems with the small things, correct them. I don't understand senior enlisted member's infatuation with the small things lately. Do they not understand enough about the big problems to tackle them?

Maj, SWA

8/9/2011 11:30:55 AM ET
Some things never change. Thanks for taking the time to put down your thoughts. I served over 23 years, including time with our sister services. I've found our Airmen are just as qualified to identify and correct violations. It's tough telling someone they are wrong but important for us ALL to do so. We must never forget our Air Force Core Values Integrity Service and Excellence. Livings by our Core Values are what make us so respectedfeared around the world.

Retired Chief, Tinker AFB

8/9/2011 3:05:28 AM ET
Let's get something straight right now. The author of this article is a CMSgt which means he is the top 1 percent of the enlisted force. He has earned and deserves respect. Maj SWA I knew a Lt Col with your same attitude towards a Chief and when he decided to order the Chief to stay out of an issue that Lt Col very quickly lost his squadron commander job. Now onto the purpose of this article. People are saying that these little things don't matter. We can be a little laxed if the job gets done right. Well right now on af.mil is a story about the two year anniversary of Global Strike Command. To remind those that may have forgotten that is an entire command that was stood up because people got laxed on little things. It resulted in a nuke being flown over our country. I bet the troops that let those mistakes happen probably also let their hair get a little long improperly wear their uniformsflight suits and let other little things slip to get t ...

Paul, Afghanistan

8/8/2011 8:28:36 PM ET
This is for Maj SWA. Your entire post makes it clear that you are a poor leader. The small things are important. The fact you are willing to let standards slide speaks volumes. And being an officer who feels the need to order a Chief to do anything speaks of your arrogance. The airmen are able to do their jobs as well as they do because the Chiefs have spent their careers training them not because a weak officer lets them get away with lax standards. You say Chiefs are obsolete Let me know when you reach the top of your rank structure. Then maybe your opinion will matter.

DC, MD

8/8/2011 2:26:43 PM ET
Does anyone else think this is ironic that this is published the same day as the post about Robin Olds with his Giant 'Stache? Just saying...

Common Sense , VA

8/8/2011 12:37:28 PM ET
This is exactly the crap that I avoided during my career of 22 years by staying overseas for 17 years. Yes, we followed the regs, and junior NCOs enforced the rules when away from the flight line where the only important thing was getting the job done safely and correctly to launch the mission birds. The two times I did serve in CONUS bases there was more importance placed on being dressed correctly and writing someone up for not saluting on the line. Give me a break! There is time for work and time for being a model Airmen in uniform. They don't always go together but believe those Airmen will get the job done and keep your a.. out of the fire when the mission calls for it. Only good well-trained Airmen serve today and if that is not the case then their immediate supervisior is the problem for allowing less-than-good people to serve. There are very good Chief MSgts serving today but as in my day, there are also some E9s who were very good at testing but never any good in leadershi

SNCO Retired, Ohio USA

8/8/2011 11:51:28 AM ET
@ USAF Officer. No sir, I didnt miss the point of this article. I take pride in wearing my hard earned stripes and will quickly correct any individual regardless of rank if I clearly see them out of line. What I mean is that the other individuals who don't seem to care about the uniform, the mission, or their responsibility who just show up to work for another days job. Those are the people who need to change and start correcting themselves and those they supervise or work along side with.

AETC SSgt, USA

8/6/2011 9:44:30 PM ET
Let's be clear. Proper Airmanship is NOT telling someone their sideburns are too long or to take their sunglasses off their head. Proper Airmanship is and always has been about safely flying airplanes. Don't cheapen that critical skill by turning it into a buzzword for correcting uniform discrepancies.

USAF Pilot, CONUS

8/4/2011 11:47:03 PM ET
This article's use of the word Airmanship is a complete abomination. Merriam-Webster defines airmanship as skill in piloting or navigating aircraft. Please stop using a fundamental concept of our service as a buzzword. And before anyone thinks this is about operators vs. support, please don't. This is about an overblown warrior ethos and a lack of focus on the core competencies of the Air Force.

Capt Dan, OK

8/4/2011 3:35:42 PM ET
The three core values here -- Service before Self, Integratiy First, and Exellance in all we do -- no one wants to follow that. I have corrected people before and the last time I did that I got my butt and an LOR for doing it. I was told that you never correct someone who outranks you. My response was that it is everybody's job to keep the guidelines. It didn't work well in the senior's office. So after that I didn't care anymore. I follow the core values but I don't bother correcting the others because of that time. These Airman coming in now, it isn't even worth it anymore. Their attitude is horrible and they complain if they have to work a couple of minutes after the end of the duty day.

SSgt TRS, Somewhere

8/4/2011 1:48:56 PM ET
I wish I had a dime for each time someone tries to coin another enticing power word. Chief, Airmanship is actually defined by Merriam Webster as skill in piloting or navigating aircraft. Why not keep your point true and simple and call it what it is: Leadership? There are some very valid points in this article. However, I would be willing to bet that just about every junior-level NCO is frustrated with the debate of "If you can't wear your uniform properly you can't do your job." It's never that black and white when the mission is going on. More than you seem to realize, there are maintainers, dirt boys, cyber operators, Airmen in uniforms who probably have a spot or two of grease, dirt, etc., from making sure missions are accomplished. The attempt to compare and categorize in black in white is ridiculous, for an example, SNCOs out there rushing to stop and correct Airmen in the middle of a pull-up set because their shirt came untucked. That's not Airmanship that's poor...

Travis, NCO Land

8/4/2011 1:00:18 PM ET
Ah yes, another leader spouting the cliche brainless nonsense of "If we can't count on our Airmen to follow these seemingly small standards how can we as leaders count on them to follow the big rules?" The opposite is also true, Chief. We, the airmen, only see our leaders worrying about the small standards and we know that you often can't take care of the big problems like taking care of people and finding ways to do less with less instead of more with less. The true leaders of this Air Force are not the generals and chiefs but the airmen who, through their own initiative, get the job done every day without leadership from you. I can't count how many times I've had to order a chief to get out of the way of my airmen so they can do their jobs. Our Airmen are professionals, not 1970s draftees. Chiefs are obsolete and you show it every day when you worry so much about sideburns and reflective belts.

Maj, SWA

8/4/2011 10:47:03 AM ET
Horse hockey! This kind of lack of priority and total lack of mission focus will destroy our Air Force. We recruit the very best people available, give them the best training and the best equipment and then don't trust them to be outside without a reflective belt or to make a judgment decision for themselves. If you can't trust a nineteen year old Airman to make a decision whether the sunglasses on his head are life or death, how can we trust him to make decisions when they really are? Are you going to be there, chief, to hold their hand then as well? We are not the Army. There is a reason that many Army recruits will not pass USAF standards and we shouldn't be treated as such. What would Robin Olds do?

Air Force Vet, NC

8/4/2011 10:02:16 AM ET
I was at a police academy class a few years ago with an ex-marine and he told me that his supervisor told him to ignore and forget the lax standards at a USAF base he was assigned to for 3 weeks.

sully, Evergreen alabama

8/3/2011 4:38:54 PM ET
AETC SSgt I hope that when you said People need to start correcting... what you really meant to say was I and my fellow NCOs will start correcting. I and my fellow NCOs will take responsibility to help keep it from getting out of hand. Otherwise you've missed the point of the Chief's article.

USAF officer, CONUS

8/3/2011 4:01:05 PM ET
A great pep talk indeed but officers and NCO's need to lead by example and ensure their own house is in order before worrying about correcting subordinates. Every day I observe countless officers and NCO's discreetly talking on their cell phones while driving on base where doing so is forbidden. What's good for the goose...

Jurgen, Dayton Ohio

8/3/2011 2:38:48 PM ET
Why do our Air Force NCOs think NCOs from other branches of the military have more authority It's because over time we chose not to use the authority given us by our commanders and the Uniform Code of Military Justice.Couldn't disagree more. As a USMC E7 married to a USAF E7 I'm constantly amazed at how little NCO power she's been given over the whole of her career. 15 years of watching her career progression has shown me that a culture of micromanagement is rampant in the USAF. Frankly I had more responsibility as an E4 than she had up until E6-E7.This isn't a my service is better than yours it is just a fact. Let your NCOs and SNCOs be leaders.

Chesty Puller, Here and There

8/2/2011 2:25:18 PM ET
You said it best Chief I'll tell you I cant even count on both hands how many times Ive seen individuals run and hide just to avoid the national anthem or not stopping their vehicles when the music plays. That is the most irritating pet peeve of mine. Customs and curtesies have gone out the window and people tend to forget the little things. People need to start correcting these individuals or things will become out of hand.

AETC SSgt, USA

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