Accountability: Actions speak louder than words

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Lionel Lyde
  • 325th Medical Operations Squadron commander
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  You and your wingman have grown up in the Air Force together. You've know each other since you were Airmen. You've both been promoted in the last year and have been given increased responsibilities to match. Recently you've noticed your buddy has been late to work a few times. You've even covered for him at his request. Today there's a new wrinkle: You've noticed the smell of alcohol on his breath this morning at the start of the duty day. You pass it off as your friend just having too much of a good time the night before and figure he'll just get over it. As this pattern continues, your wingman's reckless behavior soon poses a safety risk to others in your duty section, and still, you say nothing. Your friend is courting some potentially career-ending trouble. There's a lot at stake and you are concerned. What is your role in all of this? Who's accountable?

Actions have consequences and as Airmen, we need to remember that our actions speak louder than words. It may seem cliché, but it remains a fact. Our Air Force is our Profession of Arms, complete with our own rules, regulations, customs and courtesies. We are faced with the daily challenge of accomplishing the mission and accept the responsibility for ensuring success. This acceptance of responsibility makes us accountable to both superiors and subordinates.

What is the importance of accountability in the military? The Defense Department defines accountability as the obligation imposed by law or lawful order or regulation on an officer or other person for keeping accurate record of property, documents, or funds. The person having this obligation may or may not have actual possession of the property, documents, or funds but is liable and owns a duty to report. Duty and responsibility are vital components of accountability. Outside of an assigned task, occupation, or place of service, duty is something that one is expected to do morally or legally, responsibility is concerned primarily with custody, care and safekeeping.

Accountability is very important because it allows for your chain of command to know where you are at the moment. Accountability in the workplace is defined as doing the right thing consistently, day in and day out, in tasks and relationship interactions to fulfill or further the mission of the organization. Accountability is also important because it tells unit commanders how many personnel are available to perform certain tasks. If a leader does not know how many troops are available then he or she will not know who is available to do what and when. Everything must be accounted for from food, to rounds, to troops, to vehicles, to fuel, etc. It is very crucial to know what resources are available at all times.

All Airmen should first, be self-accountable, showing up for duty on time, with the right equipment in the right uniform. When in public, they must realize that they are representing the world's greatest Air Force and should endeavor to conduct themselves in the most professional and respectful manner possible. Second, they should keep in mind the lines from the Airman's Creed that says "I will never leave an Airman behind, I will never falter, and I will not fail." Being accountable for and to our fellow Airmen ensures that we do not leave them behind.

The last question in the opening scenario was: Who's accountable? You are! You have a duty to your fellow Airman, and when you fail to report misconduct and potentially unsafe situations, you have faltered, you have failed, and you have left an Airman behind. You are derelict in your duty to report if you maintain your silence. If your buddy gets in trouble and you have knowledge of it then you could very well face similar administrative action or non-judicial punishment. On the other hand you could get your wingman the help he may need and save his career. You can be certain that there will be some sort of punishment, but with the proper referrals many lives could be saved, including your own.

It is important to understand that the obligation incurred when accountable also extends to our most important asset: people. Their general welfare outside of the mission should always be a concern. Our Air Force is comprised of some of the best and brightest talent out there and we as wingmen and leaders should do our best to cultivate it. Accountability, responsibility and duty are three simple words with huge mission impacts. Remember, there's a lot at stake. Who's accountable? You!