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Pivotal time in Air Force calls for new perspective

  • Published
  • By Capt. Mike Garrett
  • 325th Fighter Wing deputy chief of plans
TYNDALL AFB, Fla. --  As Airmen we will soon, and some have already, feel the effects of having to do less with less. Why is this? 

Take into consideration our aging fleet of aircraft, which need to be replaced and debt from the current war, which is soon expected to exceed an estimated $320 billion. These issues, among others, are driving our Air Force to make serious adjustments through programs such as Force Shaping and Program Budget Decision 720. By design, these programs will realign and cut our force structure by 40,000 people over the next 15 months. We will all be affected directly or indirectly because it's a part of our lives now and will be for several years to come. 

With challenges of modernizing the aircraft fleet and maintaining the best trained Airmen in the world on a limited budget, we also have the daunting task of ensuring mission accomplishment. Simply, we cannot continue to operate with the old practices and organizational structures that we have in the past. We must do it better, smarter and more efficiently without losing our war fighting skills as Airmen. It's every Airman's responsibility, and it will take each of us to ensure our Air Force's goals are met. 

With such a task ahead, I feel it's important to apply an old vision to today's challenge. In the face of adversity the words of one of our founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin, captures it best. During the Constitutional Convention in 1787, Benjamin Franklin was waiting to sign a document that would hold the fate and destiny of our nation. During the convention, his eyes fell upon a carving on the back of George Washington's chair, a carving of a half sun. He stared thoughtfully at it for a moment, and then proclaimed words that would be remembered forever. 

"I have often looked at that picture behind the president without being able to tell whether it was a rising sun or setting sun. Now at length, I have the happiness to know that it is indeed a rising, not a setting sun," he said. 

What do you think Benjamin Franklin meant and how does it relate to us now? At a pivotal time of change in our history, he knew that we had to separate from the comfortable "norm," and break away from old practices. If the Republic would have lost, history would have defined the moment as a setting sun. At this pivotal time, our Air Force must adjust to the transformation at hand. 

Our commanders are going to need our help. Each Airman today has inherited the task of doing less with less to ensure mission accomplishment and the future success of our Air Force. Do your part. Take a look around your work centers and make note of programs and processes that can be done better. Make suggestions for improvement through the chain of command and "take the football and run with it." Propose solutions to problems, not complaints to problems, and expect to have greater responsibility regardless of your rank. These are just a few things we can all do to contribute. 

Through each of our efforts and team work, we will ensure that the Air Force will continue to be a strategic player in our national defense. Tyndall's mission of guaranteeing air dominance will remain the forefront of supporting the Combat Air Forces, and America will always claim victory.