DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. (AFPN) -- Every time I review a discharge package for a young Airman who went down the wrong path, I ask myself how we failed.
That’s right, how did we fail? You may think I am a bit off, since it was the Airman who violated the standards, not the rest of us. It was the Airman who showed up late for work or failed to make a mandatory appointment, not us.
So how did the Airman ever get to the point of being discharged? After all, the Airman made it through our basic training. If basic training ever was a simple ticket to punch on the way to “the real Air Force," this is not the case anymore.
The military training instructors are tough. Just ask one of the chiefs or first sergeants who have gone to Warrior Week during the past year. The regimen is strict. The trainees (they do not earn the privilege of being called Airmen until they graduate from Warrior Week) are up early, take part in physical training six days a week and work hard right up until the lights go out at night.
After earning their Airman’s Coin during a very emotional Warrior Week graduation ceremony, the Airmen finish basic and head off, in most cases, to their technical school. Granted, the reins are loosened up a bit when they leave Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, but they are still held to a high standard, and they have to be focused to pass the academic portion of their technical schools.
Finally, the Airmen arrive at their first duty station. Maybe they are lucky enough to have a sponsor appointed before they arrive. Maybe their sponsor actually meets them (in uniform) at the airport, and maybe their sponsor takes the time to sit down and go over the standards and expectations before turning them loose. Maybe not.
Here is how the scenario usually plays out. Their sponsor shows up to meet them in shorts and a T-shirt. It’s easy to spot “their troop” because our Airman shows up proudly wearing a service dress uniform.
The sponsor walks over to Airman Newbie and introduces himself/herself: “Tom/Susie (that’s Airman Newbie’s first name), I’m Bill/Laura (what the sponsor meant to say was Staff Sergeant Smith). Welcome to your new home!”
After the gathering of Airman Newbie’s luggage comes the ride to base, during which Bill explains to Tom how terrible things can be. After all, there are countless exercises, inspections, deployments, visits and long hours because many Airmen in the shop are deployed. Furthermore, there is not a whole lot of time left, nor is there a lot for an 18-year-old to do off duty.
Then, Bill drops Tom off at the dorm where the first person he runs into is Airman Sometime, who is being discharged for minor disciplinary actions. Naturally, Airman Sometime is the resident barracks lawyer and personnelist, and proceeds to give Airman Newbie the “real story” about the base.
Bill introduces Tom to everyone in the workcenter, and after some inprocessing actions they all head off base in their battle dress uniforms for lunch at a nice sit-down restaurant. Airman Newbie seems confused because there are a lot of civilians in business attire. He remembers being told that BDUs should only be worn off base for short convenience stops or to fast food restaurants and establishments where similar attire is worn.
No worries, because according to the sponsor, this is the “real Air Force” and Airman Newbie needs to forget all that stuff he/she was taught up until this point in his/her short, yet structured, career.
If this seems far-fetched to you, wake up! It happens every day, and that is where we fail our young Airmen. So, how do we fix this problem?
First, start our Airmen off on the right foot. Be a great sponsor to them; help them get settled into their new surroundings; turn challenges into opportunities. In other words, meet them at the airport in uniform. Let them know they are part of the best and busiest organization in the Air Force.
Tell them that although they will be extremely busy, they will be contributing to an organization that has an outstanding reputation and work ethic, and we need them to give 100-percent effort if we hope to maintain our reputation.
Next, adopt the motto used at many technical training centers: “Train ‘em right, train to fight.” In other words, set your troops up for success, not failure. Ensure they understand their role in the upgrade training process. Make sure they know who to contact if they are having trouble understanding; surround them with successful Airmen. And, follow up on their progress.
Third, lead by example. Ensure you are in compliance with dress and appearance standards. Polish your boots. Replace the “world tour” T-shirt you wear with your BDUs with an authorized one. Comply with the spirit and intent of Air Force instructions. Make sure you are living up to the roles and responsibilities for your current grade, as they are outlined in Air Force guidance.
Finally, help them understand they are Airmen 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year. That means 100 percent compliance with standards, 100 percent of the time, not just when they are at their workcenter.
If, after all this, one of your Airmen still does not get it, then help him/her out the gate, and back into civilian life. You can do so with your head held high, knowing you were the solution, not a part of the problem.