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Here is an interesting thread about the AF... Question from REDDIT author:
More than half of the people leaving the Air Force leave because they say they do not like the direction that it's headed in. Can someone give me some insight of why they may feel this way?
Top Response:
Shifting away from being a war fighting superpower and becoming a shy corporate entity that allows itself to be bullied by politicians, espirit de corps and unit morale being sodomized with a rake for the sake of liability, over emphasis on wildly unnecessary equipment and budget with an astonishing lack of care for the people who keep this force running.
The mission is being hampered and many units don't have what they need to get their job done effectively just because top brass wants to cover their ass. Just look at what our briefings emphasize: how many times are we briefed on things like SARC, FWA and other liability issues that are the product of commanders becoming frightened by statistics? We're transitioning from "Fly, fight, win" to "Do more with less, make your brass look good, shut up and color".
That said, I can't speak for everyone. This is just the overwhelming consensus. Leadership has become so enthralled with fighting statistics and numbers that they forget about the real fight. When commanders care more about looking good statistically and aesthetically for their own higher-ups than accomplishing our war fighting purpose to the best of our ability, the entire force suffers.
With that in mind, some leaders are better than others. I've seen the good and the bad, and the good ones that put their troops first despite intimidation from their own bosses are sadly far and few between and rather short-lived.
Edit: Never thought I'd get gold. Thanks, friend. Double edit: Just because I know someone is going to bring it up, I'm not saying things like SARC and FWA are unimportant. I'm saying that the perspective seems to be that leaders spend more time looking at spreadsheets than they spend listening to their troops. The Air Force asked me once every three or so months about how to stop sexual harassment. How many times did the Air Force ask me how policy could be changed to help me get my job done faster and more reliably? Zero. And I'm confident that my career field wasn't the only one with this issue.
http://www.reddit.com/r/AirForce/comments/2pzibn/what_direction_are_they_talking_about/
More than half of the people leaving the Air Force leave because they say they do not like the direction that it's headed in. Can someone give me some insight of why they may feel this way?
Top Response:
Shifting away from being a war fighting superpower and becoming a shy corporate entity that allows itself to be bullied by politicians, espirit de corps and unit morale being sodomized with a rake for the sake of liability, over emphasis on wildly unnecessary equipment and budget with an astonishing lack of care for the people who keep this force running.
The mission is being hampered and many units don't have what they need to get their job done effectively just because top brass wants to cover their ass. Just look at what our briefings emphasize: how many times are we briefed on things like SARC, FWA and other liability issues that are the product of commanders becoming frightened by statistics? We're transitioning from "Fly, fight, win" to "Do more with less, make your brass look good, shut up and color".
That said, I can't speak for everyone. This is just the overwhelming consensus. Leadership has become so enthralled with fighting statistics and numbers that they forget about the real fight. When commanders care more about looking good statistically and aesthetically for their own higher-ups than accomplishing our war fighting purpose to the best of our ability, the entire force suffers.
With that in mind, some leaders are better than others. I've seen the good and the bad, and the good ones that put their troops first despite intimidation from their own bosses are sadly far and few between and rather short-lived.
Edit: Never thought I'd get gold. Thanks, friend. Double edit: Just because I know someone is going to bring it up, I'm not saying things like SARC and FWA are unimportant. I'm saying that the perspective seems to be that leaders spend more time looking at spreadsheets than they spend listening to their troops. The Air Force asked me once every three or so months about how to stop sexual harassment. How many times did the Air Force ask me how policy could be changed to help me get my job done faster and more reliably? Zero. And I'm confident that my career field wasn't the only one with this issue.
http://www.reddit.com/r/AirForce/comments/2pzibn/what_direction_are_they_talking_about/
Posted in these groups: 
Social MediaAir Force ROTC
Social MediaAir Force ROTC
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 24
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I chose the early retirement option because of where I think the AF is headed. I had noticed more and more my command staff preaching not to take care of your troops but to strive to stand out and get awards. Then as I watched my fellow NCOs looking out more for themselves and not their troops, I felt disgusted. I had many conversations about this between both those NCOs and the leadership above them to no avail. I also feel like the AF has (well at least the medical side of it) started to lean more toward coddling our troops instead of holding them accountable for their actions and behavior. I'm not saying bring them out back and beat on them, but they must understand that for every action (good or bad) there will be a reaction. Too many NCOs were/are (in my opinion) afraid to hurt someone's feelings. I have to say, I am not Hardass, I'm pretty easy to work for and I always take care of my ppl. But, if/when paperwork needs to be written/given, I do it without letting my troops complain about it. When they walked away, there was no question of what they did wrong and how to fix it or not do it again. It wasn't personal, it was just business. I didn't hold it against them later and I feel like my troops respected that. I still have troops call me up to ask about things.
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MSgt Timothy Johnson
I find it difficult to think a command staff would condone not taking care of your troops. I do agree everyone should strive too better themselves. It was normally between me and three other NCOs that were winning all of the NCO of the quarter awards. We also won our share of Top Wheels vehicle competitions. This was a wing commanders focus because of flight line FOD. He wanted winners evdrywere but at no time did he say or imply that we were to win at the cost of Airmen. So the time came when a couple of us began supporting the NCOs that worked under us. It takes people like you to stay in and keep supporting your ideas. Just my thoughts.
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TSgt Joshua Copeland
MSgt (Join to see), are you referring to REDDIT or the Airmen (big A) tht post on it?
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I'm retired with 23yrs service. Some active some air national guard. When the Air Force is worried about sexual harassment reflective belts political views instead of getting the job done saving lives esprit de corps the discipline of military life the Airman soldiers marines and seaman of our military dont want any part. When I retired my young airman would ask me what happened to the way it was. All I could say is things change. Why because I would not speak against me leaders. After it was finalized I spoke out. The military has no place for the pokitical correct world. We won wars because of leadership and hard discipline. Now we have to be nice pokitically correct, ethnic quotas for positions and ranks. It is no more the best person for the job. I love my Air Force my military but honestly things have gotten weak.
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I love this. It is speaking on what many of us have wanted to say for years. I was thrown in a position directly out of tech school and had no real guidance. Supervisors were more worried about the offices statistics, but to the blind eye they claimed to be all about the mission. It truly was a shut up and color situation. But when you try to ask for help or finally feel like you can speak you don't because you know they aren't listening. Anyway, I got out with honorable under the downsize, I sit and think to this day I'm glad I did.
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It's really easy to point at the next generation and say that we had it perfect and they messed it up. If people aren't producing what you want them to, then make them! Motivate, develop and inspire.
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I subscribe to daily texts, today reads as follows "Good morning from 95.1 SHINE-FM! "You may not be able to fix yesterday but you can start today to make a better tomorrow." -Dr. Tony Evans"
For those airmen witnessing FWA: "Anyone who knows of fraud, waste, or abuse has a duty to report it to the FWA Hot Line: Dod/Ig [login to see] , secaf/Ig [login to see] , afrc/Ig [login to see] ext 71513 434, arw/Ig [login to see] "
Let's start here, today, day 1 begins now- for a brighter, more functional force tomorrow
For those airmen witnessing FWA: "Anyone who knows of fraud, waste, or abuse has a duty to report it to the FWA Hot Line: Dod/Ig [login to see] , secaf/Ig [login to see] , afrc/Ig [login to see] ext 71513 434, arw/Ig [login to see] "
Let's start here, today, day 1 begins now- for a brighter, more functional force tomorrow
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Air Force is more combat oriented now. Security forces are becoming a relief group for the infantry. Combat medics are being trained with rifles. Tactical patrol and combat controllers are scouting intelligence convoys and etc.
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To many changes taking place at once. People have to be able to have time to accept the change before it takes place. Unfortunately, as soon as the personnel found out changes were going to take place the changes were already occurring.
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If, an explanation can be given as to how the Air Force Department "allows itself to be bullied by politicians", I will address this misled man. When I served, I thought that I was working for the leaders who we placed in the position to "bully" the Air Force??
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