Tinker AFB 552 ACW Update:
Hitch kicks out Group level leadership (Donovan wasn’t present to start with)
Starts the conversation saying it will be a listening meeting versus a chatting meeting, with the intent to clarify the situation, and where the Gp/CC was coming from.
Makes some jokes about if anyone has seen the social media feeds, and says he’s seen the memes. “I Don’t Mind Memes”, adds a comment along the lines of if that’s your means for expression go for it.
Starts with the misconception that ABMs don’t understand the struggles flight deck has, and says it’s not true, and that “We” trust you to make the decision/on safety. “I expect you to tell us when things aren’t right”.
Jokes that he has good ideas, particularly like a 48 hour exercise. Clarifies that his expectation was to launch within 48 hours, and didn’t expect the 12 hour swap from day to night lines to occur during the exercise. He was expecting to stay within the same cycle, and seemed to also have been surprised as much as the crews were.
“Pills are not the answer”. He explains that he doesn’t want a dependency on drugs to be our solution to getting the rest we need, and he expects “discipline” to fix our circadian rhythm without drugs. 7 minutes in, takes the first question for a “listening meeting”.
From the crowd, former AMC pilot, explains how he used to swap circadian rhythms constantly, but that the use of no-go pills was a decision that should be left up to the individual and not taken away, since it is an approved option within regulations. Real world, it’s not just showing up ready to fly, but being prepared to have a 20 to 22 hour duty day, and by removing an available tool you’re limiting our capability. “Trust us to make the decision”.
No real response from Hitch here.
Wing staff Lt Col, suggested alternatives to running these exercises would be the utilization of pause ex in order to prove that the crews were able to show and maintenance was able to deliver the jets, and then restart the mission back on the same circadian rhythm or flight windows the crews were already having. Especially for a self induced exercise.
Hitch, response was, “why do we do exercises, to show that we can do it”. Defends with the the transition from day to night wasn’t expected and normally crews are given 48 hours to make that change (i.e. the weekend). Mentions that it didn’t “compute” for the exercise, and it was an “unfair assumption”. “You guys made the right choice, the Vice was right.” “We backed you up on that right call”.
Someone from the crowd mentions that wasn’t the tone they received from the Gp/CC during the berating session.
Hitch, “I think your Gp/CC is an emotional guy, and he is invested in you”.
Random Co-Pilot mentions that the biggest concern was if there was going to be changes to the AFI (11-202v3) due to the Gp/CC mentioning he would be making the cancel decisions for ACs.
Hitches response, “the only changes that would occur would be to bring the Gp/CC in the loop, in order to assist with the notification process to HHQ”. He blames the exercise plan again for issues with rest.
FE from one of the crews reiterate that the tone from the Gp/CC wasn’t simply disappointment or looking for answers to report up the chain, but had pushed a “No Fail” perception for the exercise, and the only reasons that the crews weren’t ready to execute could’ve been one of two things. 1). They were poor leaders, 2). Weren’t taking the exercise seriously. FE continues to explain that he had zero doubt that was the case for anyone he worked with, and they were taking the exercise seriously.
Hitch responds, “I’m certainly not here to defend the Gp/CC”, “Disappointment is one thing, but there are some things that are not appropriate for the Gp/CC to let out”. Later in the brief he equates this to questioning the leadership abilities of the crew members.
Hitch mentions, that sometimes stress and pressure is good, you need a fine amount of pressure. “I want to know if you were receiving good or bad pressure”. No one really wanted to respond to this specifically.
Female AC from the crews, “No one questioned why?” Regarding why they were not well rested to execute the mission. “What about the timeline”. Explains the min turn times, and last minute changes during the exercise that left the crews blindsided and without time to adjust from day to night. Reiterating the required 48 hours to change, and that no-go pills were needed.
Hitch responds, “I appreciate that, and that’s one of the many things we’re going to look at during our hot wash”.
Copilot from the crews adds on that part of the concern that wasn’t addressed was his lack of currency. That he was on this exercise flight to get current, and with that mix of tiredness and having not seen a jet for at least 30 days are factors.
Hitch responds, “we do need to address a FD currency issue, it’s a conversation we need to have”.
Someone from the crowd, “I want to know if he’s (Gp/CC) being told he was wrong”.
Hitch responds, “He is, and whether or not that leads to an apology I don’t know, but I can tell you he cares about you and trusts you. He’s been texting me at all hours of the night, asking what should I do about this?”. “I told him to be honest, and be humble with them, admit when you’ve made a mistake. I’m not afraid to fail, I fail everyday.”
I wasn’t quick enough to get every bit of conversation. Sorry some things seem disconnected.
Some other items discussed
- SOF program isn’t where it should be, and the decision for cancellations is a telephone game where the real story doesn’t seem to get translated accurately by the end
- Reiterates that leadership trusts their flight crews for the ORM assessments, but will ask questions, mostly because they need to report that further up the chain. He didn’t get an exact reason why the 3 crews canceled from the Gp/CC.
- Mentioned the Gp/CC was interested in talking with everyone after the meeting, but left it up to us to bring him in or not. He (Gp/CC) did not get a chance to address everyone.
- Mentioned multiple ways of addressing lack of flight crew currency. Crowd member mentioned currency is not proficiency. Continued to talk about other options ranging from like-aircraft just for flight deck training (other 707s), dedicated tankers, moving people around and/or trickling down the PFT pipeline, even turning off a squadron.
- Mentions 4 + 2 on station timeline. 4 years on station, +2 more if you’re a “shiny penny” and are picked for the 966th. Someone retorted with based on 50 - 100 hours a year for co-pilots at the moment, it would take 7+ years to have the hours for AC upgrade, let alone IP/EP.
- Tells us to ask COMACC some of these questions, since it is seriously being looked at for our platforms replacement, etc.
Lastly, big ticket item. Someone mentions how he’s going to handle social media, and whether or not the Gp/CC will get fired, saying it may not be the best decision since it will prove to people that social media has that kind of power.
Hitch responds with, “How do you think I should do it?” *laughs from the crowd* “I think I gave it a shot, and it didn’t quite work out”. *more laughs*. Leaves it up in the air on his decision whether the Gp/CC will still be around the next day or later on. Says he will not be addressing social media on this matter any longer. “I’ve got plenty of positive stories to tell, and I ask you to do the same”.
Closes out with we’ve open the flood gates of communication, and asks for help to make the Wg better. Says to make sure to talk to your Sq/CC first, and then we can talk to him.
