This week's leadership moment is on the subject of rank. If you are a leader you should know about your responsibilities that come with rank, what rank is, and just as importantly, what rank is not.

I like to start with the end in mind, your responsibility and your rank: Rank is simply the authority to serve other people. The more military rank you have, the more people you have the authority to serve, but more importantly, the obligation to serve, support, and mentor. This is your primary responsibility that comes with your rank.

Rank is an overt symbol of the legal authority you are entrusted with, an acknowledgement of your technical expertise, and a signal of how much experience you have in the military. It is based on a long military history or creating a system of effective accomplishment and hierarchy of decision making at every level in combat and in peacetime.

Rank is not your license to "boss" people around, demand action without accountability, abuse people, entitle yourself to privileges or expect unearned respect. It also is not an excuse for inertia - we all can show initiative and leadership at every rank - and should. It is not a reward for past work, but an opportunity to for accomplishment in the future. We award medals for what you did in the past, we award rank for what you can do in the future.

The Air Force promotion policy simply states we are to advance airmen who clearly have the potential to shoulder increased responsibility once they are advanced in rank. Only the best can be promoted due to they limited vacancies in higher grades. We work in a meritocracy - your promotion becomes effective as soon as you do.

For you junior officers and airmen - just because you do not have a lot of rank does not mean your contribution to the mission is any less important. Let me relay the story of Airman First Class (A1C) Joel E. Tally. I met CMSgt Tally cutting my grass in Fort Walton Beach one day in 1999 while helping my neighbor, Lt Col (ret) Jack Modica. As it turned out, Joel Tally rescued Jack Modica in the jungles of North Vietnam in 1968 after Jack's F-105 fighter plane was hit with 57 mm cannon fire and he had to bail out. Jack was severely injured - broken pelvis, back, burns, lacerations, loss of blood, shock etc. To make matters worse, he landed right on top of a large ant hill and they were eating him alive.

"On 2 July 1968, para-rescueman Amn Tally voluntarily descended from his helicopter into the jungle to rescue an injured downed pilot (Jack Modica). The downed pilot was in the midst of North Vietnamese Army Regulars who has established gun positions around him to ensnare rescue helicopters. Four rescue attempts were thwarted, and a supporting fighter aircraft was shot down by enemy troops. On the ground, Amn Tally conducted an extensive search, located the injured pilot, carried him to the recovery site, and signaled his crew to hoist them into the helicopter. As they were being hoisted, enemy fire raked the helicopter, scoring more than 40 hits and forcing it to depart the area with Amn Tally and the survivor fully exposed to hostile fire. Nevertheless, the mission was a success." (credit: AFPAM 36-2241 - Enlisted PME study guide, 1999)

At that moment, no one cared what anyone's rank was - the crew flying the chopper, the downed pilot, and the airman who selflessly went down that wire to pick him up - they were all different ranks - with one mission. The lowest ranking airman had the biggest role in that mission and had to make tough calls the whole way through. He went above and beyond and was awarded the Air Force Cross - one of only 21 enlisted recipients in the history of the Air Force.

The new Air Force motto is now "no one comes close" meaning we are the best air force in the world. We are the best AF in the world because our enlisted force is the most professional of all the world's air forces. Our enlisted force is the best selected, trained, educated, equipped, and motivated.

Things to remember:

1. Rank gives you the authority to serve other people.
2. The rank you presently hold is important and you should be proud of it - use it to the best of your ability.
3. Do not let your perceived lack of rank be an excuse for lack of initiative - be a leader at your rank.
4. Show respect and military courtesy for those who hold a higher rank - you will be there soon yourself.
5. Don't worry about making rank - focus on being a leader and soon your rank will be commensurate with your leadership skills and abilities.

86 AMS, use your rank to accomplish the mission, to serve others, and to serve your country. Leaders emerge at all levels of rank - step out and be a leader! I am honored to serve with you of all ranks in the 86 AMS - officer - SNCO - NCO - airman!

Some other known thoughts from people with rank and how they used it:

"If you once forfeit the confidence of your fellow citizens, you can never regain their respect and esteem. It is true you that you may fools all the people some of the time; you can even fool some of the people all the time; but you can't fool all the people all the time." Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States on using rank: Lincoln on Leadership, 1997

"World War II had taught me one important lesson in leadership: the most valuable soldier was one who was well informed, encouraged to use his head, and treated with respect." Gen. Omar Bradley, A General's Life, 1983

"Professional courtesy and good manners should be carefully integrated parts of your command and leadership principles, both up and down." Maj Gen Aubrey "red" Newman, Follow Me, 1981

"Every great soldier has succeeded in convincing his men that he knows and respects them as individuals. To accomplish this end he goes among his men freely, mingling with them and giving the soldiers a chance to look him over and size him up. An officer or NCO who barricades himself behind his rank is properly suspected of having weaknesses to conceal - probably more than he actually has." Gen Maxwell D. Taylor, 1956

"When dealing with your superiors and subordinates, assume they are like you: Professionals!" - Lt Gen Ulmer Jr.