CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
Chief Master Sgt. Dwayne Gunther, the 437th Security Forces Squadron security forces manager, has served the security forces career field honorably for 30 years and will be retiring in April. As the SFM, he is a vital part of our unit's leadership team and he has helped me direct the unit and provide council to security forces Airmen. I have asked him to share his thoughts as he begins to bring his career to a close.
After nearly 30 years of service to this nation and the United States Air Force, I have a lot to say. I thought about the many changes I have seen and encountered during my career and decided to write about one subject that has always been a struggle for me throughout the years as a supervisor, leader, mentor, father-figure and friend. That subject is "retention!"
Why retention? Well, it is a very important subject for our military force. Throughout the many years I have served, I have seen great leaders leaving our service seeking more personal challenges. I came to the realization that I had to focus and help all of them be successful. No matter what the end decision might be.
Take these three tools, think about them, and modify them to best suit your leadership style. Change the names to whatever works for you, but the traits are still the same. I call them: committed, on-the-fence, and the no ways.
The first tool is "committed." There are some of us who know after a few years of military life that the Air Force is the way of life. The discipline, the commitment to country and the selfless dedication to our jobs are all that matter. We know the Air Force is going to be at least a 20-year commitment. My fellow NCO's and chiefs are extremely grateful for those people who come to us for mentoring, advice on supervisory responsibilities, problems, and especially that "Show me the way!" attitude they possess. These are the easy ones to spot. Take the precious time to make sure you keep them motivated and focused. Don't lose them. These are our future chiefs!
The second tool and the hardest for most supervisors to see are those who are "on-the-fence." These are second-term enlisted members who really don't know what their next step in life is. These Airmen are critical for supervisors to determine who they are and it is well hidden. Find out and ask the questions up front. Work with these people and ensure they know what the Air Force has to offer. Pull out all your fact sheets, counseling tools, or as Command Chief Master Sgt. Bernise Belcer puts it, "Your tool bag!" Take the time out of what you think is your busy schedule and explain our Air Force and its benefits. You don't want them to separate and go to the civilian world and not be prepared to be successful. You will be surprised at how many superior Airmen you will be able to keep in the best Air Force in the world.
Last, but certainly not least, are the "no ways." They are out there and you already know who they are. These Airmen came into the Air Force for one reason or another. It could have been for education, medical benefits, wanting to serve their country, learning a new skill or even maturity. These Airmen are determined to do their four-or-six-year commitment and depart our military. Don't discount these awesome Airmen, because you know what ... it is okay for them to leave our military. Provide them information to make informed decisions and then support them in their future desires. The Air Force and our nation will still win because we will send these highly motivated, disciplined, trained warriors back to the civilian community who are strong-willed residents of the United States of America who are well versed in the military and who are better Americans. They are all worth the extra time you commit to making them successful.
Remember, you don't have to keep them all. Everyone is different and all have goals, visions, and objectives in life. You are the leader ... provide them with the facts, assist them in reaching their goals and challenge them with work that will lead them to their objectives in life. The ultimate decision is theirs, and the choice to remain in the Air Force or separate is theirs. Either way we win.