What's wrong with the Air Force?

[brabus]

4 hours ago, CharlieHotel47 said:

ANG

Remind that dipshit this is the guard - we don’t subscribe to dumbassery like the AD. Go do something productive and mission enhancing sergeant.  

[08Dawg]

Doesn’t a shirt have more important things to worry about, like taking care of Airmen?

”Roger” or “noted” are appropriate responses to any bullshit from someone like that. 

[dream big]

36 minutes ago, 08Dawg said:

Doesn’t a shirt have more important things to worry about, like taking care of Airmen?

”Roger” or “noted” are appropriate responses to any bullshit from someone like that. 

When Shirts and Chiefs are on about uniform standards, my assumption is that everything else in the unit including the morale and welfare of the troops is running swimmingly. If that’s not the case, those Shirts and Chiefs should lean forward and choke themselves. 

[HossHarris]

Remember, they’re enlisted and you’re an officer. 
 

every time they speak to you, task them with some trivial bullshit. Bring me the results of the last dorm inspection? How many CE Tickets are still open on the ops building? How about the dorms?  I think the track is a few meters short, go measure it. Get me the names of every crew chief that grew up in Texas.  The more tedious and vaguely personnel related the better. 
 

they’ll leave you the fuck alone when they realize every interaction comes with homework. 

[ViperMan]

9 hours ago, 08Dawg said:

Doesn’t a shirt have more important things to worry about, like taking care of Airmen?

”Roger” or “noted” are appropriate responses to any bullshit from someone like that. 

I prefer something more along these lines.

 

[08Dawg]

Which brings me to another “wrong with the AF” point… we’ve got this ingrained cultural problem where a certain sect of SNCOs feel empowered to and expect that they can just run over captains, majors, and even lieutenant colonels.  I call it “excessive professional deference”. Sure, you’ve been in longer and I respect your technical competence, but the last time I checked, an O-3 or O-4 still outranks an E-7, 8, or 9. Don’t like it?  Tough shit, MSgt…go to OTS and get a commission. 

[SurelySerious]

Which brings me to another “wrong with the AF” point… we’ve got this ingrained cultural problem where a certain sect of SNCOs feel empowered to and expect that they can just run over captains, majors, and even lieutenant colonels.  I call it “excessive professional deference”. Sure, you’ve been in longer and I respect your technical competence, but the last time I checked, an O-3 or O-4 still outranks an E-7, 8, or 9. Don’t like it?  Tough shit, MSgt…go to OTS and get a commission. 

And if we’re really honest sometimes it’s technical and strategic incompetence, but I digress. True story, you want the authority and responsibility then you go commission.

[Sua Sponte]

17 hours ago, 08Dawg said:

Which brings me to another “wrong with the AF” point… we’ve got this ingrained cultural problem where a certain sect of SNCOs feel empowered to and expect that they can just run over captains, majors, and even lieutenant colonels.  I call it “excessive professional deference”. Sure, you’ve been in longer and I respect your technical competence, but the last time I checked, an O-3 or O-4 still outranks an E-7, 8, or 9. Don’t like it?  Tough shit, MSgt…go to OTS and get a commission. 

Blame the commanders that enable this behavior.

[SocialD]

25 minutes ago, Sua Sponte said:

Blame the commanders that enable this behavior.

 

I blame the CC's, but I also blame officers who allow these types of acts to go unchecked.  You're an officer, don't be afraid to act like it.  Just don't be a dick and be right.  On the spot correction are powerful and can quickly straighten up any culture of lax good order/discipline.  In 22 years of enlisted and officer service, outside of some punishment I had to hand out as a CC, I can only remember two situation that rose to the level of "get in this office and shut the door," type corrections.  Both situations were as a Captain and Major, and I never heard a thing about them again, and more importantly, they worked. 

[Sua Sponte]

4 hours ago, SocialD said:

 

I blame the CC's, but I also blame officers who allow these types of acts to go unchecked.  You're an officer, don't be afraid to act like it.  Just don't be a dick and be right.  On the spot correction are powerful and can quickly straighten up any culture of lax good order/discipline.  In 22 years of enlisted and officer service, outside of some punishment I had to hand out as a CC, I can only remember two situation that rose to the level of "get in this office and shut the door," type corrections.  Both situations were as a Captain and Major, and I never heard a thing about them again, and more importantly, they worked. 

Aren’t you a Guard/Reserve Baby? If so, vastly different than being active duty. 

[brabus]

1 hour ago, Sua Sponte said:

Aren’t you a Guard/Reserve Baby? If so, vastly different than being active duty. 

Only once on AD (as a Capt) did I have to do a closed door correction on a SNCO. Never had any negative reactions from it. As SocialD said, don’t be an asshole, but as an officer, grow a fucking pair and act like it (and don’t be wrong when you have to do it).

[Lord Ratner]

I found it easier to just pretend you had no idea the rule existed, or that you forgot. Playing dumb was a surprisingly powerful tool in an organization where the entire officer system was predicated on the officers voluntarily pushing themselves to the limit on the hopes of securing promotions. 

 

And in Bagram, my missing reflective belt was always wherever I was going. I kept one at the squadron and one in my room for the rare time an SNCO wanted to call my bluff and follow me to the destination. Drove them bonkers. 

[M2]

On 12/20/2024 at 2:07 PM, 08Dawg said:

Which brings me to another “wrong with the AF” point… we’ve got this ingrained cultural problem where a certain sect of SNCOs feel empowered to and expect that they can just run over captains, majors, and even lieutenant colonels.  I call it “excessive professional deference”. Sure, you’ve been in longer and I respect your technical competence, but the last time I checked, an O-3 or O-4 still outranks an E-7, 8, or 9. Don’t like it?  Tough shit, MSgt…go to OTS and get a commission. 

Not just in the USAF...

[HuggyU2]

22 hours ago, Lord Ratner said:

... an SNCO wanted to call my bluff and follow me to the destination. 

Probably the same one that called us out for not standing at attention... and basically ignoring... the Afghan Anthem being played. 

[Sua Sponte]

On 12/19/2024 at 10:26 PM, brabus said:

Remind that dipshit this is the guard - we don’t subscribe to dumbassery like the AD. Go do something productive and mission enhancing sergeant.  

Uhhh, that largely depends on the Guard unit.

[brabus]

55 minutes ago, Sua Sponte said:

Uhhh, that largely depends on the Guard unit.

Yeah I’m sure it does, but it’s still a valid point nonetheless. I loathe people who try to make the guard more like AD.

[tac airlifter]

On 12/21/2024 at 1:35 PM, Sua Sponte said:

Aren’t you a Guard/Reserve Baby? If so, vastly different than being active duty. 

I was AD and as a Capt I close-door squared away an out of control SNCO.  No repercussions to me.  And even had there been, good.  Embrace it.

Too many officers use fear of “the system” to excuse their own weak behavior.  We’re warriors facing death, dealing violence and inspiring others to follow.  Grow up and embrace your potential is my advice to officers shying from confrontation for fear of reaction within their chain of command.  Do the right thing for the right reason, or at least be able to spin it that way!  Men of action shouldn’t live in fear.  Doing so is a choice.  Choose differently.  

Edited 18 hours ago by tac airlifter

[pbar]

1 hour ago, tac airlifter said:

I was AD and as a Capt I close-door squared away an out of control SNCO.  No repercussions to me.  And even had there been, good.  Embrace it.

Too many officers use fear of “the system” to excuse their own weak behavior.  We’re warriors facing death, dealing violence and inspiring others to follow.  Grow up and embrace your potential is my advice to officers shying from confrontation for fear of reaction within their chain of command.  Do the right thing for the right reason, or at least be able to spin it that way!  Men of action shouldn’t live in fear.  Doing so is a choice.  Choose differently.  

There is definitely a difference between moral courage (which is lacking it seems) and physical courage (we don't seem to be short of this) as you point out.