CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Team Charleston, I enjoy every opportunity to share with the Airmen here at Charleston. Recently, I spoke with a group of bright staff sergeants at the NCO Professional Enhancement Seminar. Throughout the course of our conversation, several issues associated with personal responsibility seemed to reoccur.
The group offered a number of personal experiences they believed illustrated a lack of personal responsibility on the part of supervisors. They seemed to feel that one of the most significant offenses was when a supervisor rewarded someone the group believed to be undeserving. My young friends expressed strong opposition to this kind of behavior. They believed supervisors have a responsibility to make better decisions in these situations.
Every day each of us works hard to make this wing run like a well-oiled machine. Routinely, a select few are singled out and rewarded for their hard work. Quarterly awards, annual awards and even Stripes for Exceptional Performers promotions are bestowed upon those who have distinguished themselves. The NCOPES students rightly expressed concern that the most deserving are not always the ones selected for these honors.
I agree fairness is important. However, no decision-making process is flawless. I know we work extremely hard to exercise sound judgment in an effort to promote the fairest awards program possible. At times, a supervisor's decision is difficult, but we trust them to make the right call, just as we will trust the NCOPES students when they are faced with similar challenges. Winston Churchill once said, "The price of greatness is personal responsibility." That said, leaders are responsible for their own degree of greatness and, although we are not obliged to agree, we are obligated to obey.
For the first time, one of the NCOPES hours featured two members of our sister services. Command Master Chief Michael Jackson, from Naval Weapons Station Charleston, and Senior Chief Petty Officer Jeffrey Dale, from the Coast Guard, addressed the seminar. The students were afforded a rare opportunity to learn about both the Navy and Coast Guard missions and how we work together to support each other during peacetime and fighting the global war on terror. Kudos to Master Sgt. Tim Kelly, our base career advisor, for adding this block of instruction to the curriculum. It was very informative to me and the students. I encourage everyone to send their NCOs and Airmen to their respective seminars. The knowledge they receive will enhance the resources in their leadership tool kits and will serve to strengthen and help them grow.
Congratulations to this month's Diamond Sharp Award recipients. Each month, the First Sergeant Council selects and recognizes deserving Airmen for their sharp dress and personal appearance along with their contributions to their units. The award has no specific criteria and people are not nominated. Instead, it is given to an individual by their first sergeant as a result of observations at work. A reward for outstanding performance executed when one is unaware they are being observed is a reward for a true professional. Such performance embodies our Core Values -- Integrity First, Service Before Self and Excellence in All We Do. Great job!
Team Charleston - Take the Fight to the Enemy!