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:
Rank gives you the authority to serve other people.
The rank you presently hold is important and you should be proud
of it - use it to the best of your ability.
Do not let your perceived lack of rank be an excuse for lack of
initiative - be a leader at your rank.
Show respect and military courtesy for those who hold a higher
rank - you will be there soon yourself.
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.
