Rolf Holmquist’s Post

Winning the Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) of the Year in the United States Air Force is a significant achievement and recognition of outstanding performance and leadership among non-commissioned officers. Non-commissioned officers are enlisted personnel who have risen to positions of leadership and responsibility within the Air Force. Earning the title of NCO of the Year typically involves a competitive selection process that evaluates airmen on a wide range of criteria, including leadership abilities, job performance, professional knowledge, and community involvement. Those selected as NCO of the Year are often seen as role models within their units and the broader Air Force community. Update: Won it at the Group Level! More to follow on potential Wing win 🥇

This past weekend, I paid another visit to Edinburgh, which became my favorite city after my first. Whilst walking through one the war museums in Edinburgh Castle, I read through a number of historical battles and noticed a trend in how the records were maintained for centuries before the 1900s: "76 officers killed, 382 other ranks." It made me reflect on the importance of being a senior non-commissioned officer (SNCO) in the armed forces. Historically, the lack of a strong non-commissioned officer (NCO) corps in some armies led to challenges in maintaining order, discipline, and effective training, directly impacting battlefield performance. Armies with well-developed NCO corps, like those in the U.S. and German military traditions, often demonstrate higher levels of effectiveness and adaptability. The NCOs' experience and knowledge are vital in training new soldiers and adapting to evolving combat situations, making them indispensable in both historical and modern military contexts. SNCOs hold even greater responsibility and influence within the military. They are key advisors to commanding officers, providing insights based on their extensive experience. SNCOs often manage larger units, oversee training programs, and play a pivotal role in strategic planning and decision-making. Their leadership is essential in maintaining the effectiveness and morale of the troops. They set the standard for professional conduct and discipline, serving as role models for both junior NCOs and enlisted personnel. In many ways, SNCOs are the custodians of military traditions and values, ensuring their transmission through generations of service members. Their role is critical in shaping an efficient, disciplined, and cohesive military force.

Leadership Thoughts for Pride Month There has been a lot of backlash lately about a Navy Special Warfare Command (i.e., SEALs) Facebook post that featured the words, "NSW DIGNITY SERVICE RESPECT EQUALITY PRIDE" on a rainbow flag. Considering the "team" mentality of NSWG, I am surprised that the current NSWG leadership endorses this approach. The problem with this post is not the Navy's position on LGBTQIA+ sailors, but rather, it the the fact that we recognize them as a distinct group. This flies in the face of every aspect of our military and Navy training. We are taught and trained to look past our differences and focus on our mission. We function best as a team, not as individuals. We seek values that unite us, not divide us. HONOR. COURAGE. COMMITMENT. Those are the Navy's core values and our focus. We must not divide ourselves by heritage, education, politics, race, religion, or sexual orientation. Celebrating any grouping of servicemembers is divisive and only serves to weaken our team. When building a successful team, focus on the values that unite; not those which divide. #NAVY #CNO #NSWG #SEALS #LEADERSHIP #NAVYSPECIALWARFARE #MILITARY #PAO #PUBLICAFFAIRS #NAVYPUBLICAFFAIRS #KEITHDAVIDS #ANDYSCHREINER #DAVIDMARKLE #WALTERDITTMAR

#MedicalMonday: Spine pain wants muscles turned on, not pulled into a stretch. Operational tactics change all the time. In the spine world, we constantly come up against the paradigm that pulling on something that feels tight will help the pain go way. Remember years ago when we were told to “stop doing static stretching in exchange for dynamic stretching?” What the medical community should’ve said is “dynamic mobilization,” instead of prolonged, elongated pulls. So what do we do when we feel tightness after an activity or a mission? Paradigm shift: Take a look at the spine muscles. They like guy wires holding a tent that would wobble in a storm of not anchored down. The tiny multifidus muscles, the facet (FA-set) joints and the discs are all arranged to keep motion of the body from getting to the spinal cord. Doing strengthening after a helicopter or TACAIR flight, even in the ready room, will allow you to sleep without pain. Trade out twisting, flexing and arching the spine and neck for activtiea that turn on the muscles, which then keep the joints supported and out of pain. 💪🏻💪🏻 If you have spine pain question, or want to train your command how to keep their spines healthy, reach out. ♻️ share or like to get the word out. www.smartbacx.com U.S. Naval Air Forces US Navy 75th Ranger Regiment, U.S. Army Naval Special Warfare Command - Navy SEAL & SWCC Teams Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division (NSWCCD) Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic Commander, Naval Air Force, Pacific Luftwaffe - German Airforce Swedish Armed Forces Royal Australian Air Force #usaf #usaf USMC War College (MCWAR) #flynavy #navalaviation #unitedairlines #deltaairlines #southwestairlines #pilots U.S. Coast Guard USSOCOM

Roz is an absolute legend in every way.

Each branch of the U.S. military has its own flight schools to train pilots. The Air Force, Navy, and Army, for example, all have distinct training programs tailored to their specific aircraft and mission requirements. Each service has its own curriculum, instructors, and flight training facilities. The top picture is from the Navy’s advanced course, while the bottom picture is the Air Force’s introductory slide from week one. 😉

Hello Radio Reconnaissance Platoon I see a lot of posts on military recruitment and quality of life for Marines and sometimes wonder if HQMC or the public at large understand a different aspect of Marines not often discussed, and likely not popular unless you've experienced how what many call a better quality of life (QOL) negatively impacts camaraderie. I was honored in the 90's as a 2nd Lieutenant to be the Platoon Commander for 1st Radio Reconnaissance Platoon at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. RRP was the last of our Battalion to live in open squad bays, which meant a couple dozen Marines from Lance Corporal to Sergeant living in one very large room. There were no private showers or heads (bathrooms). Every day, I watched a half dozen or more RRT Marines pile into a Corporals jeep and head to the beach or a bar or whatever. On Field day, every Marine in the platoon, whether they lived in the squad bay or not, had to field day the barracks. When we finally were forced to move the platoon into two-man rooms, I seldom again saw more than a couple Marines in that beautiful red Jeep Wrangler. You could feel the difference in camaraderie within the platoon as they began to become less cohesive with all the Marines that once shared one large room. I don't think young people join the Marine Corps because they are looking for comfort or want to live the campus life. Their is an intersection where QOL and camaraderie intersect, and I realize it's too late to rewind the clock, but the two man barracks campus life was the first time I felt a disconnect between what Marines were really looking for as Marines, and what the Generals were giving them as a QOL. #radioreconnaissance #veterans #leadership #veteranshelpingveterans #marines

If you're an employer, you'll recognise the key transferable skills and qualifications gained by those leaving their Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force careers. They demonstrate the expertise and commitment of #veterans and #serviceleavers, making them highly valuable assets for your construction projects. #Teamwork, #leadership, and #problem-solving are among these that can be brought to your organisation. These transferable skills, developed through their military training, make them an ideal fit for the construction industry. Consider the benefits of incorporating their expertise and experience at every rank and level of experience.

Excellent introduction to the SCC aspect of H2F. A key component is injury prevention through appropriate and consistent PT. As this program expands ultilization, it's impact will be felt down the road as injuries go down and more adaptable soldiers are developed. Combined with the other resources within H2F, the program will strengthen and improve the quality of life for service members. #H2F

Our third Cummins veteran for our Memorial Day highlight is Jerry Vest, one of our Maintenance Technicians working behind the scenes to keep all of our offices and facilities running smoothly. 💪 – Service branch: Air Force – Duration of service: 22 years – Highest rank attained: Master Sergeant (E-7) – Commendations: Outstanding Unit Award, Meritorious Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal – How has your service benefitted you as a person? “Being in the service has taught me self-discipline, how to understand the big picture and accomplish small tasks to contribute, and how to mentor new Airmen and help them grow into adulthood.” – How has your service affected your ability to work with military-involved consumers and families? “I don't work with consumers, but I do with providers. Treating others with respect and dignity is very important, as is knowing that every job matters, from transportation to CEO. Teamwork is very important in the military but also in the private sector. You have a role in a much bigger mission, and you have to realize that in order for the mission to be carried out.” #MemorialDay2024 #CumminsVets #ProudOfOurVets #SaluteToService #HonorOurHeroes #ThankYouVeterans