How do you think? Published May 7, 2007 By Lt. Col. David Pollmiller 21st Airlift Squadron commander TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Every now and again, I get lulled into an erroneous reality that we are all like-minded soldiers firing on the same eight cylinders heading towards a common goal of defending our nation. Fortunately, this false perception is usually short lived. Every day I witness incredible diversity of thought and celebrate that our Air Force is made up of volunteer individuals that bring a unique perspective to our service. A simple glance at the Letters to the Editor in the Air Force Times will tell you that our Air Force is comprised of individuals with varied opinions and thoughts. Not that I view the Times as a window into the culture and climate of the Air Force, but it is a forum from which we can draw information. A quick walk through a random selection of dorm rooms looking at wall posters will highlight that some like nature, some like music, some like action heroes and the list goes on. From meetings with other commanders, to commander's calls to functional meetings, there is always a few with a different idea about how to get things done. Diversity of thought is a wonderful and dynamic challenge for the Profession of Arms. Let's face it, we should be like-minded to the ideal that we focus on defending our nation. But, how we accomplish that simple like-minded goal absolutely depends on our rich diversity of thought. We rely on new and unique thoughts to re-define a tried and true process to make it more efficient and effective. We rely on new ideas to re-think how we apply safety tools and get the job done without injury. We rely on new ideas to shape the way we employ forces to combat an evolving enemy. As a commander, I celebrate diversity of thought. It helps my unit move forward and face new challenges. It keeps us viable, flexible and responsive. Every new member represents the potential of a new path - and that is very exciting. As wonderful and exciting as new and different ideas are, we are all bonded by a common oath and common values. The values of Integrity, Service and Excellence establish a boundary within which we expect our members to live and operate. The challenging part of encouraging diverse thought is managing the misfires. When thoughts and actions exceed the boundary, our mission is disrupted and that is unacceptable. This premise is no different outside the gate. The Constitution and our laws define a boundary for all Americans. As Airmen, our bounds are just a bit tighter, as are those of other professions. Police, medical, education and corporate professionals all set bounds to ensure that their members are moving towards common goals. So, not only is it okay to think differently, we encourage it. We need new ideas to grow, to advance and to remain on top. Embrace diversity of thought and exploit that resource for everyone's benefit. However, America has placed a solemn trust in our ability to defend her. We must manage the misfires and accept our bounds so that we can be successful. Failure is not an option.