💡CADRE COLUMN 💡
𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗱𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝗲.
As an Airman serving at THE Air Force Senior Noncommissioned Officer Academy, this role allows me plenty of opportunities to meet students, have great conversations and learn a little bit about people. During some of these conversations, it has been a little surprising and somewhat alarming in the number of times I’ve engaged with folks who have concerns with policies, procedures, or guidance, relatable things. However, there is more to this point, the most concerning aspect during these conversations, is it usually starts with “I”.
When did “I” become who WE are?
As Airmen, we always value the relationships, engagements, and events we get to be a part of because of one thing, the TEAM! The TEAM is what we are about. The TEAM is what motivates us each day. The TEAM is why I continue to serve.
In the last few years, we have slowly faded away from a TEAM dynamic and gravitated to individualism. As SNCOs, we must commit to the fact that individualism must die. We must eradicate it from our force, units, and flights. We should all look to our left and right, even up and down the chain and do what is needed each day for the TEAM. You do not always have to be a TEAM leader…more importantly, be a solid TEAM player.
The most fun people have in their careers is when they reflect on a good TEAM, not their individual achievements and accomplishments, but the deeply rooted relationships that were built while being a part of a successful TEAM! To prepare our airmen for Mission Generation Force Elements, each service’s individuality is important to the Joint Force but that’s where the individuality should end.
Bottom line, we have airmen with diverse thoughts, capabilities, and air force specialty codes, we can have the most organized, trained, and equipped airmen in the world, but ultimately, we will have mission failure if we are not a TEAM.
-CMSgt Rich Brownlee
Chief of Operations, AFSNCOA