CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
How well do you know the Airmen who work with you?
This is a question I ask supervisors when assisting them in resolving potential problems with coworkers or subordinates. I'm often surprised by how little we collectively know about our fellow Airmen even though we spend eight to 12 hours a day working together.
If I asked you to name the spouse and children of a coworker along with their birthday and anniversary, would you be able to answer? This is merely an example of some information we may or may not know about our own supervisors, coworkers and subordinates. I've had supervisors in the past who could answer these questions and prided themselves in knowing everything they could about me and my family. More importantly, those supervisors and fellow Airmen who genuinely care for each other are willing to help each other at a moment's notice.
Take some time to get to know those who work around you. Something so simple could later pay dividends for you as a supervisor or Wingman. All of us at one time or another will face some life events and challenges as we continue to serve in the Air Force.
I've seen some of these challenges first hand and I am often called upon as a first sergeant to resolve issues with Airmen. Early recognition of a potential problem is the best prevention tool of all, but it really just takes teamwork. This teamwork I'm talking about needs to come from all levels in the chain of command. A small problem that's dealt with immediately can sometimes be resolved quickly without incident, but if the problem is allowed to persist or is left unchecked it can become an even larger problem.
Recognizing that a fellow Airman is having some kind of problem isn't always easy to detect since members having problems sometimes view their problems as private matters. An observant Wingman or supervisor can sometimes identify a potential problem.
Once a problem has been identified, try to have a discussion and pay close attention to both the verbal and non-verbal responses. The non-verbal responses are sometimes very important indicators as to what the Airman is thinking and not saying.
If the Airman is unwilling to discuss their problem then encourage them to talk to somebody like a chaplain, first sergeant, life skills or military one-source. In extreme cases this could possibly be the only early warning sign of a potential life or death situation.
So next time you go to work and think about how to best serve the Air Force and accomplish the mission, ask yourself this very simple question, "How well do you know your Airmen?"