Revitalize the squadron now

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Shane A. Wehunt
  • 860th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Just under a year ago, Gen. David Goldfein was confirmed as our Air Force’s 21st Chief of Staff.  Just days after his confirmation Goldfein published his first of three short papers titled “The Beating Heart of the Air Force…Squadrons!”

In this first paper, he breathed new life into an old concept where, “Squadrons are the basic, building block organizations in the Air Force.”  In fact, this is more than a concept, this statement is straight out of Air Force Instruction 38-101, Air Force Organization.  The refocus on a seemingly benign statement was an enormous shift in how this institution viewed the squadron and it initiated Goldfein’s efforts on revitalizing Air Force squadrons. 

In fact, just last week, a team from Headquarters Air Force led by Brig. Gen. Stephen Davis visited Travis Air Force Base, California, to conduct interviews with several Airmen of all ranks and positions as part of this effort.  Their data, along with data collected from other wings through various means, will be analyzed in an effort to hear our voices and to make recommendations to Goldfein.

In a speech to the Air Force Sergeants Association – Professional Airmen’s Conference in August 2016, Goldfein addressed a question regarding what a revitalized squadron would look like. His response was both telling and refreshing. Telling because it provided insight to our Chief of Staff’s boundless vision. Refreshing because, as a recently graduated squadron commander, his vision of a mission-focused squadron that is family-oriented and a fun place to be, is exactly how I operated in my tenure as commander. 

I knew that as a commander, I must continually reinforce the message that our mission matters and that we remain focused on it. That what we train to do, and what we execute each and every day matters. It matters because people’s lives and hopes depend on it, directly or indirectly, each and every day. 

I knew that a squadron that is family-oriented is more than having a good Key Spouse program, although vitally important.  It is more than our spouses and kids feeling welcome and having the support needed.  A family-oriented squadron is much more encompassing and “family” extends beyond the traditional. It is Airmen of all ages, ranks and backgrounds, along with their families, lifting each other up in ways that realize the maximum potential of each individual while working as a team moving toward excellence. It is a level of unwritten accountability to self and each other. It is the absolutely unwavering demand by all that we treat each other with dignity and respect no matter the circumstance, and it is knowing that the family has your back, every step of the way. It’s the family that celebrates your successes and that picks you up, dusts you off and sets you back on track when you fall.

I also know that we, as a family, would achieve more, execute our mission better and serve better if the squadron was a fun place to be. Knowing all too well that sometimes what we had to do wasn’t going to be fun, but we would complete the mission and take care of our family every step of the way. I encourage each of you to consider the Chief’s vision of what a revitalized squadron can be. Be a part of the vision as we move into a new era of the Air Force squadron.