CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Team Charleston, recently I attended the Coast Guard's Chief Petty Officer Acceptance dinner, which is comparable to the Air Force's Senior NCO Induction banquet. It was a real honor and a treat to experience a bit of Coast Guard tradition.
Although there were similarities to the way the Air Force marks the transition to the E-7 grade, I noticed some interesting differences. The first difference I noticed was the name. Instead of an "induction," the Coast Guard refers to the event as an "acceptance." I was impressed to learn that the six weeks leading up to the acceptance dinner, is packed with various leadership activities that must be accomplished to proceed. This is a significant contrast to the three-day seminar that Air Force master sergeants complete prior to their formal induction into the senior NCO grades. I found the acceptance dinner to be a bit less formal than our induction banquet, yet it was conducted with every bit as much respect and honor for this significant career transition.
The dinner was a fitting opportunity for the chief petty officers to share their transition experience with their families, friends, colleagues and subordinates. Despite these differences, it was glaringly obvious that the importance of quality enlisted leadership is a common thread that runs through both our services.
In the spirit of joint cooperation, the local Coast Guard commander, the Coast Guard command master chief, the Naval Weapons Station Charleston, command master chief, and I all addressed these new chief petty officers concerning leadership. Each of us, in our own way, spoke of a leader's credibility. What I gathered from the other speakers was that enlisted leaders who establish and maintain a real connection with those at the lowest levels establish credibility with their senior leaders. It is often the junior-enlisted men and women who do much of the heavy lifting in any mission. And they deserve enlisted leaders who are out front working as hard as they are and, at times, side by side with them. Chief petty officers and master sergeants alike who make it a point to lead at that level become well versed in the yeoman-work and resources it takes to secure mission success. Those are the enlisted leaders who possess the knowledge and credibility to better advise up the chain. Credibility is tough to earn and easy to lose. At times it only takes a broken promise, careless act, or thoughtless remark to diminish years of hard work. Whether Coast Guard, Navy, or Air Force, a credible enlisted leader is often a successful enlisted leader.
As long as people drink and drive, Airman Against Drunk Driving will be a valued line of defense. The committee's most recent effort to make people aware of the program was a very creative one. Committee president Staff Sgt. Julia Fike from the 437th Operations Support Squadron led the team to develop a video that promotes the program. Along with Senior Airman Zachariah Lopez and Staff Sgts. Robert Sizelove and David Watson from the 437th Airlift Wing Public Affairs Office and actor Tech. Sgt. Yvette Turner from the 437 OSS -- the video was a resounding success. It debuted at Wing Stand up and will be shown at Commander's Call and other venues around the base. It is available for viewing on the public drive.
Team Charleston - Take the Fight to the Enemy!