Service Culture: You’re Doing it Wrong

2014-10-22T20:33:23-04:00

The title above is borrowed from the linked article discussing some takes and thoughts on the Airman's Creed. What are your thoughts about the creed and do you feel the arguments are valid?

http://www.jqpublic-blog.com/service-culture-youre-wrong/

Every Air Force Chief of Staff yearns to leave an indelible mark on the service. Seven years ago, General T. Michael Moseley chose to spend his dime on “reinvigorating a warrior ethos,” though he a…

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2014 8:44 AM

2014-10-23T08:44:35-04:00

MSG O'Brien, I'm not an airman, but I was in Air Force ROTC, and attended several AF Courses while in the Army, including Avionics, advanced course, etc. A late distant uncle was an AF BG.
I am aware of this story. I don't agree with the snipers. I don't agree with the Army of ONE mentality either. It's not about one person, but it is about how one person can make a difference. It's easy to snipe. It's especially easy to snipe at things that make us feel uncomfortable. Inculcating a sense of duty and personal--and collective responsibility to the greater good makes our country great. When we can live up to it. I wonder if we can.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2014 2:41 PM

2014-10-24T14:41:44-04:00

I agree with his post whole-heartedly. This creed supplanted the ones in place, tearing out the heritage, and replaced it with something I would expect from a CAP cadet who has never been on an Air Force base.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2014 7:07 PM

2014-10-24T19:07:11-04:00

IMO our service has always had an identity crisis. We don't know what we want to be. One minute we are technical experts in the DOD, another minute we think we should be just as hard core as a Marine, granted we fall way short in that respect.

I always thought that this whole thing was a bit over the top. IMO I think we cheapened the term Warrior in some respect. It seemed like these Creeds and that everyone's a Warrior was placating our support role in the service. In some respects it reminds me of how schools did away with honor roles and everyone is now in "Special." No I am sorry that is not always the case. Army guys on the ground fighting for the objective are Warriors. Us AF guys sitting in our cubicles all day are not. Wearing PT gear tucked in with a shiny reflective belt does qualify us as warrior.

we should be proud to be force that has a mission to maintain Air and Space superiority. The superiority is more than just putting bombs on target. It is also our robust Air Mobility System that gets the Warriors to the fight as quick and safe as possible. It is our space based assets that provide critical communications and intel to war fighter in a timely manner. We are the Airspace command and control experts for the fight. These are the things we are competent at.

We are not boots on the ground (The .01% SOF don't count). We do not drive tanks. We need to focus on our core competency of being world class technical experts at what we do. I think that is what we have lost our sights on a bit. We have been trying so hard to be the other guy that we forget who we really are. I think if we can go back to our competencies it will be better in the long run. A creed is not going to make me a better officer or pilot. Knowing how to do my job well, and understanding its role and competently executing those duties does.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 15 at 2014 11:09 PM

2014-11-15T23:09:55-05:00

Calling myself a warrior is an insult to those who actually are warriors.

The Air Force separated itself from the Army because we are specialists first, and the whole "warrior" thing just got in the way of making planes fly. Concerning the whole "I, me" argument, any NCO worth his weight in excrement who is granted recognition for a task has an unwritten obligation to credit the troops he leads. That being said, I continue to mouth "pineapple banana" in quiet protest every time we're forced to do so. Only the Air Force equivalent of "boots" actually have it memorized.

Response by MSgt Michelle Mondia made Feb 18 at 2015 9:25 AM

2015-02-18T09:25:16-05:00

The creed is an attempt stay relevant in a climate of war. No one joins the Air Force to avenge and be a warrior. It sounds like it was written after being really pissed off after 9/11. But calm down refocus and come up with something genuine and maybe use our core values as inspiration. Great article, loved this post.

Response by MSgt Joanna Clute made Feb 18 at 2015 9:29 AM

2015-02-18T09:29:47-05:00

Agreed and agreed on the lost heritage and use of the word "warrior". We as a service have lost sight of what makes us unique. Our leadership has allowed a steady erosion of the heritage that made us proud. PC Police at awards ceremonies to make sure no unit mottos are too profane for the room full of adults in attendance. The newer Air Force insignia. The Airman's Creed. I don't think it's just a case of "the old folks don't like change", I think it's a serious problem to treat the military like a corporation. Corporate executives aren't going to make the sacrifices and put themselves in harm's way to get the job done. It's a matter of pride, and it bugs me that the airmen coming in now aren't being allowed to feel that sense of pride. My 2 cents.

Response by Maj Matt Hylton made Feb 18 at 2015 10:20 AM

2015-02-18T10:20:09-05:00

The Army did it, so we had to copy them.

The similarities are very striking (it almost looks like the AF just copied/expanded on the Soldier's Creed).

Soldier’s Creed

I am an American Soldier.
I am a warrior and a member of a team.
I serve the people of the United States, and live the Army Values.
I will always place the mission first.
I will never accept defeat.
I will never quit.
I will never leave a fallen comrade.
I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.
I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.
I am an expert and I am a professional.
I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy, the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.
I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.
I am an American Soldier.

vs.

The Airman’s Creed:

I am an American Airman.
I am a Warrior.
I have answered my nation’s call.

I am an American Airman.
My mission is to fly, fight, and win.
I am faithful to a proud heritage,
a tradition of honor,
and a legacy of valor.

I am an American Airman,
Guardian of freedom and justice,
My nation’s sword and shield,
Its sentry and avenger.
I defend my country with my life.

I am an American Airman:
Wingman, Leader, Warrior.
I will never leave an Airman behind.
I will never falter,
and I will not fail.

Response by COL Vincent Stoneking made Mar 8 at 2015 10:01 AM

2015-03-08T10:01:38-04:00

I seems that I missed this post when it was fresh. I think John Q. is right on target with his assessment. Which is true about 95% of what he writes. I also think that about 75-85% of it applies directly to the Army.

Functional organizations have the culture that they have because it is adaptive to a sufficient extent ("because it works"), not because someone thought it sounded cool, because it focus grouped well, or because the marketing contractors had an awesome buffett.

Leadership have a responsibility to try to SHAPE culture in a more adaptive direction ("make it work better"). However, trying to impose a culture - especially one that is significantly different from the existing one is pretty much impossible unless you are willing to have greater than 100% turnover in a very short period of time... Which is a no-go in an organization where institutional knowledge is crucial.

Heavy-handed culture change efforts^Wdirectives just annoy people, cause cynicism, cause resistance, and invite passive-aggressive resistance.

I don't wish to bring back the Great Beret Wars, but I will note that it took months and months (if not years) after the Army issued its guidance on the Black Beret to get everyone wearing it according to policy. When the policy was changed to go back to patrol cap for daily wear with utility uniforms, it took about .0437 picoseconds for 100% compliance throughout the force. One directive was in accord with the organizational culture.

I also think John Q.'s claim that someone decided "well the Army has one...." was the root of this. It does sound cribbed.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 8 at 2015 1:39 AM

2015-04-08T01:39:03-04:00

I agree wholeheartedly with the sentiments in the John Q. article. The reason we have a proud heritage, a tradition of honor, a legacy of valor, and thousands of airmen ready to give their lives in defense of this nation has nothing whatsoever to do with those airmen having memorized a list of positive self talk messages.

Response by SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 24 at 2015 1:21 PM

2015-04-24T13:21:22-04:00

The creed came about when the AF was being tasked to do more "outside the wire" missions and this helped to remind Airmen that we are indeed part of the Armed Forces. Does reciting it make the dental tech a warrior? No. Does it remind him or her that there are "battlefield" Airmen that are in harm's way? It should.

I just wish we hadn't stolen it from the Army.

Response by SSgt Chris Frey made Apr 24 at 2015 2:54 PM

2015-04-24T14:54:49-04:00

It was unnecessary when it came out. The air force top should be more worried about the mission then making the airmen memorize some made up creed.