Five secrets your commander doesn't want you to know

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Alex Berger
  • 570th Global Mobility Readiness Squadron commander
TRAVIS AFB, Calif. --  I am about to reveal the truth about one of the most mysterious people on earth; your commander.

No matter what type or size unit, there are some universal truths about commanders that most people probably don't realize.

1. Your commander is making much of it up as they go, despite that calm, collected exterior you see every day. There is no textbook or class that teaches them how to command a unit. Go to a bookstore and check out the leadership section -- look at the sheer volume of books that profess to have the magical formula for motivating and leading people. Although your commander was selected from their peers because they showed the capacity to lead, there is no "right way" to command.

2. Your commander worries every day about things completely out of their control. Unit command is not just a job, it is an appointed position that holds with it very specific obligations. They are legally responsible, and held personally accountable, for things they couldn't possibly personally oversee: your training, the safety of you and your family, the responsible use of Air Force money and manpower, adherence to regulations and standards -- an almost endless list.

Commanders struggle to find a balance of trusting their people with day-to-day oversight of these tasks and living with the risk that things will not be done the correct way. Failing to find that balance either results in a unit that is stifled or one that is chaotic -- both of which can lead to mission failure.

3. Your commander wants everyone to succeed. Whether you are a "top 10-percenter" or someone who feels you can never catch a break, your commander wants every single one of their troops to be a productive member of the Air Force team. It surely doesn't feel that way for those who are on the receiving end of a verbal counseling or receiving paperwork for things they have done. However, these actions are intended to identify improper behavior, turn that behavior around and ultimately keep everyone within Air
Force standards so they can retain your skills to support our critical mission.

4. Your commander is in a race against time. They say there is nothing so optimistic as the first day of a new diet, or the first month of command. No matter what kind of unit a commander inherits from their predecessor -- one that is firing on all cylinders or one that is facing serious issues -- your commander has a vision for where they want to take the unit. Most command tours are two years in length, so your commander will be in a hurry to make their changes permanent before they hand the unit over to a new commander, who will also want to make changes.

5. "You know that call you get from your significant other...the one saying "honey, when are you coming home?" For most commanders that evokes the same dread that hearing the words, "the commander wants to see you...now!" does with you."

Between attending Airman Leadership School graduations, drafting awards packages, reviewing performance reports and answering endless e-mails, your commander's work day is almost never-ending.

Paying for graduation dinners, giving promotion gifts and covering out-of-pocket expenses for retirements also taps your commander's bank account. The emotional and financial burden of command is one most commanders happily bear for the privilege of commanding a unit, but this is also one of the reasons command tours are limited to two years -- command takes its toll.

So the next time that you see your commander, give them a wink and let them know that you know their secrets. And hopefully knowing this will help you to help them succeed. Because we know your secret too, that you want to be proud to call us your commander.