Air Force amn/nco/snco

If there was one thing I learned the hard way during my career, it's this: When the troops start grumbling, you damn well better start listening (and I'm not talking the constant "man, this sux" type of comment")! Equally dangerous is their profound silence. Both signal something is seriously FUBAR. I think we, as SNCOs, have fallen into the trap many of our officers have. We get so focused on our own career progression, we forget why we are there in the first place.

The best advice I ever received was from a retired Colonel. He stated simply: "If you want to be a successful leader, BE a leader. Do NOT be a politician in a uniform!" I think we have an excess of politicians now and not enough true leaders at every level.

Could it be that younger members feel as though no is listening to them or they aren't being factored into decisions? Or is it that younger members are more plugged in and don't buy in as easily as you and I did/do. All to often adaptation to change comes way too late and this could potentially be a contributing factor in some of the rants/raves we see online. The younger generation have this idea that the internet empowers them to say whatever, whenever they want to. My advice is that you should always feel empowered to sound off but do it in a respectable/acceptable manner. As leaders we have to set the tone for those we supervise so if your people don't trust you or the system then the rants will only become louder and more vicious.

Nobody trusts the surveys. If they do fill out the surveys honestly they are scoffed by the leadership. If I were king for a day I would definitely be watching these sites for unfiltered feedback. Seems to me they are providing a service. Whether or not big blue jumps on board and embraces or tried discourage will be extremely revealing of where our AF is headed.