HarryShadow
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2006
- Posts
- 95
Check out the 11 Sep edition of the Air Force Times and the opinion section (last page), the one written by MGen Charlie Dunlap, (Deputy JAG, HQ AF)…“High time for a lesson in professionalism”. This opinion piece really got my blood boiling!!! (Not to mention the 9/11 edition makes no mention of the five year anniversary…but hey, I’ll read anything on the pot). Maybe I’m making it more than it is, but he is ranting about not being saluted one morning as his “driver” drove him through the gate. Granted, courtesies in the military may be dwindling and this could be a worthy topic, but hear me out. Next he touches upon the blended military (mix of active duty and contractors) and what it has done “to our professional ethic across the board?”…”some of it not good.” He does recognize that most of the “blended military” are “thoroughly professional”, but that “we cannot allow the influx of non-combatants to imprint a generation of young warriors with the wrong role models for the profession of arms.” Are you kidding me??? Non-combatants???
Here’s what I wish he would have wrote:
“I didn’t get saluted at the gate…so I had my driver pause and I saluted the young troop until she got the point and realized her mistake. It’s a courtesy that can flow two ways.”
“As far as the blended military goes…I am thankful for the contractors who are deployed to OEF/OIF, putting their lives on the line to ensure the fight continues. It may be a pain in the @ss to get them to stay late when the job requires, but hell…we signed the contract and I appreciate their continued service. After all, most are former military that understand the traditions and values of our service and chose this difficult deployment to continue to serve (and make a little more coin).”
“Lastly, I’m not a warrior and I will not give a lesson in professionalism or warriorship to the men and women who lay it on the line in a manner I cannot understand!”
A few truths about officership that I learned from my father…retired after 32 years in the AF…6 as an E, 26 as an O:
1) Always be a mentor…sometimes you may have to mentor up the chain…have the b@lls to do it!
2) Customs and Courtesies…you should never have to counsel another on this…it’s expected they comply! Just be the example and the rest will sort itself out
3) Never be afraid to make the right decision regardless of the outcome. If it means you don’t get promoted then so be it. If it means you lose your command, you still did the right thing. If it means you p!ssed off your boss…then you still maintain your integrity, did the right thing, and you got to p!ss off your boss, which can be fun!!! People respect the right decisions…not the wrong ones!
4) Always take care of your people…regardless of the cost!
I think we need more of #3 and #4 in the AF…
Here’s what I wish he would have wrote:
“I didn’t get saluted at the gate…so I had my driver pause and I saluted the young troop until she got the point and realized her mistake. It’s a courtesy that can flow two ways.”
“As far as the blended military goes…I am thankful for the contractors who are deployed to OEF/OIF, putting their lives on the line to ensure the fight continues. It may be a pain in the @ss to get them to stay late when the job requires, but hell…we signed the contract and I appreciate their continued service. After all, most are former military that understand the traditions and values of our service and chose this difficult deployment to continue to serve (and make a little more coin).”
“Lastly, I’m not a warrior and I will not give a lesson in professionalism or warriorship to the men and women who lay it on the line in a manner I cannot understand!”
A few truths about officership that I learned from my father…retired after 32 years in the AF…6 as an E, 26 as an O:
1) Always be a mentor…sometimes you may have to mentor up the chain…have the b@lls to do it!
2) Customs and Courtesies…you should never have to counsel another on this…it’s expected they comply! Just be the example and the rest will sort itself out
3) Never be afraid to make the right decision regardless of the outcome. If it means you don’t get promoted then so be it. If it means you lose your command, you still did the right thing. If it means you p!ssed off your boss…then you still maintain your integrity, did the right thing, and you got to p!ss off your boss, which can be fun!!! People respect the right decisions…not the wrong ones!
4) Always take care of your people…regardless of the cost!
I think we need more of #3 and #4 in the AF…