JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
Have you ever thought about how the phrase, "hindsight is 20/20," applies to our Air Force?
It means that if we had the chance, we could go back and change the way a particular situation played out. We would be able to prevent a mishap or change an outcome to better suit our needs. Unfortunately, we cannot go back in time and change things for the better ... but we can control certain parts of our future if we're willing to take action before something bad happens.
For example, how would we feel if we had the chance to prevent a suicide but failed to offer help to someone in need? What if we have a gut feeling something isn't right in an Airman's life, yet we tell ourselves the person is just having a bad day and later the Airman harms him or herself?
We have to be willing to take action when we feel something isn't right so we prevent situations from becoming worse. And just as important, we have to take action before we get a gut feeling, so we can recognize when something is affecting our Airmen's lives.
We could prevent many of the suicides, mishaps, alcohol related incidents and other disciplinary problems we face in the Air Force if we get to know our Airmen and try to better understand the issues they face. Knowing our Airmen begins with getting out of our offices and talking to those folks we work with. It means asking them about their families, their goals, their experiences both on and off base and being empathetic to what we learn. We then have to act on what we learn.
Our Airmen also have to know us; they have to know we're leaders they can count on. We have to make standards known and enforce those standards; not just the "important" standards, but every standard, no matter how insignificant it may seem. We have to create a culture of responsible choices - a culture which demands Airmen to make the right choice. We have to serve as visible leaders, no matter what our rank or position, so our Airmen know they can count on us for guidance and support.
Imagine a puzzle which is missing some of its pieces. We may still be able to see what the puzzle is supposed to portray, but the picture will never be complete if any of its pieces aren't there. The same is true of our Air Force; we need each of the approximately 645,000 Airmen who make up our total force. We may be able to get by if we lose someone to suicide or a disciplinary issue, but our Air Force just won't be as complete as it should be.
Getting to know our Airmen, creating a culture of responsible choices and being leaders at all levels so we can offer the support they need are the most important things we can do to keep our Air Force complete. We can learn lessons from hindsight, but we can make a difference if we're willing to take action before a problem happens.