JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
"Spanning six decades of Air Force history - particularly over the last nineteen years -Airmen have proven themselves as global first responders in times of crisis. To that end, we must have the appropriate skills to meet the global challenges of today and tomorrow in Joint operations in Air, Space and Cyberspace and we must sustain deployed and home station quality of service."
These words from the April 2010 Air Force Key Talking Points publication truly describe today's Airmen, both those who deploy overseas and those who deploy to a different base within the U.S. Whether we're supporting the relief efforts in Haiti, participating in the current surge or undertaking any other mission we're asked to accomplish, our Airmen have the right skills and the right leadership to take care of business.
Of course, making sure Airmen can fulfill our legacy as global first responders comes with certain costs. Providing the relevant training, the proper equipment, and medical care are but a few of the costs necessary for us to remain the world's most powerful Air Force and to keep our nation safe. For most of us, we don't have to worry about these things; the Air Force or provides just about everything we need to do our job. What really makes the difference between success or failure is how we take care of our Airmen and their families. It is a bill every leader must pay.
At the 2010 Caring for People Forum, Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley stated, "Concern for people is certainly positive but concern only becomes meaningful when action is taken." For us, taking action begins with recognizing that Airmen are being asked to make personal sacrifices, that they have many demands competing for their time and that their families sometimes suffer. It becomes meaningful when we do our best to lessen any negative effects caused by the costs we ask our Airmen to pay. Action is even more meaningful when we accentuate the positive and reward our Airmen for their hard work.
Admittedly, there's only so much we can do to reward our Airmen. We can't offer many financial rewards, but we can sometimes buy lunch for our work center. We can't always give a lot of time off, but we can occasionally cover a shift and let someone go home early. When we ask someone to work late or call a young mother in on her day off, we can at least take the time to thank the Airman and her family. We can also sacrifice some of our personal time writing awards packages for those who truly deserve the extra recognition. Find a way that works for your Airmen; it's really a small price to pay.
Speaking for all Air Force leaders, General Norton Schwartz, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, said it best: "Secretary Donley and I are proud of the tremendous contributions Airmen make every day to secure our nation. We recognize and appreciate the sacrifices that are asked of you and your family."