Originally Posted by
Blackhawk
True story. I think I've told it here before.
In the mid 1990's I was doing a site survey for a SOC exercise out of an Air Force base in the Florida pan handle. We needed to borrow a hanger for maintenance during the exercise.
1. I go to the squadron commander. He says he would like to help, but sorry, he does not own the hanger. I have to talk with the maintenance commander. Huh. In the Army, the squadron commander owns his hangers, but it's different here. I'll play along.
2. I go to the maintenance commander. He says sorry; yes, he owns the hangers, and he would like to help, but I have to talk to the base commander. At this point I'm confused. But hey, it's the Air Force, a different service, I'll play along.
3. I get an appointment with the base commander. I explain that I had spent the previous day trying to coordinate the use of a hanger. The owners already said they did not mind, but I needed to talk to her. She says sorry, she would like to help, but she has to bump it up the chain of command. At this point I'm REALLY confused. It's her ^%$ing base. Who does she have to pass it up to??? What, is some one in DC or some other place going to know if the hanger is available??? Heck, the unit that owns it says there is plenty of space...
I'm walking out of the Base HQ dumbfounded, confused, trying to figure out how I will explain to my boss why we have to bump our request up the SOC chain of command to get a hanger without making the Air Force look bad when I hear feet coming up behind me. It's the base CMSgt, who was in on the meeting with his commander. He is obviously embarrassed. He hands me his card and tells me not to worry, he will personally take care of things and make sure my unit has hanger space for the exercise. All the commanding officers were too scared to make decisions. If they made a decision, it might be the wrong decision. It took a senior NCO to make something happen.
That's hilarious. As AFPirate knows, my theory around the majority of USAF leadership stems from making (in)decisions motivated by fear. Everyone you talked too was too concerned that they may end up stepping on someones toes if they let you use their hanger. They're too afraid to make a decision, so pass it along to someone else. Same thing goes for the stupid reflective belts we all wear around the bases everywhere in the world, "I'm the O-6 who is afraid that someone will get hit by a car. Therefore, everyone will wear reflective belts." Just wait until someone sh*ts themselves....you know the result... Leadership isn't just about making the tough decisions, but also being able to make those decisions out of the shadow of fear.