CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
When you volunteer to become a first sergeant, one of the questions asked by senior leadership during the interview process is "why do you want to be a first sergeant in the U.S. Air Force?" Not going into too much detail and speaking from the heart, my answer was simple, "it's not about me."
Now that I am serving as a first sergeant, I am often asked that same question; my response is still the same. I know we are not interviewed or asked if we want to be supervisors when we reach that level in our military careers, but I would like to think your answer would be very similar to mine.
As first sergeants, our primary focus is maintaining a mission-ready enlisted force, helping people to reach their full potential and using the expertise and experiences in our military careers to guide and mentor along the way. As supervisors, you have the same focus and, although the path in which we each take to get there may be a little different, the underlining purpose is the same.
Now you may ask yourself, "but why?" The answer is simple: because "we must." The Air Force has seen to it that we, as first sergeants and supervisors, have all the necessary tools to help each and every member in our unit be successful in their careers. We are each given standards, Air Force Instructions and the appropriate level of professional military education throughout the stages of our careers to guide us as leaders, trainers, counselors and mentors.
One of my favorite references is the little brown book, commonly known as AFI 36-2618, the Enlisted Force Structure. When speaking to the "Airmen" at our outstanding Airman Leadership School or First Term Airman Center, I always bring my little brown book. It amazes me how many questions can be answered by reading and then explaining passages from the text. Most of the questions concern supervision and the "do's" and "don'ts" of being an effective supervisor.
I would challenge you to read the instruction -- which is all of 19 pages front to back -- and apply it to everything you do just like the core values. I think that when looking back on your career and all the great things you have accomplished, the memory most vivid in your mind will be the privilege you earned as being someone's supervisor. How you took the time to help them grow with a focus on knowing that everyone has something to teach and if you just take the time to listen and get to know them on both a personal and professional level, you can learn something.
As first sergeants and supervisors, we do these things not because we are told we have to, we do these things because "we must" and when asked why, simply say, "It's not about me."