Compliance culture

  • Published
  • By Col. Jim Vechery
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing commander
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE,Calif. --  Travis Air Force Base has a legacy of excellence as "America's First Choice." But merely saying it and being it are two completely different things. It takes more than just a slogan to be first. It takes a culture of doing the right things, the right way, for the right reasons. This legacy of excellence translates to the current vision for the 60th Air Mobility Wing, "Trusted as America's First Choice for Total Global Mobility!"

This vision starts with the word trusted for a very important reason. We are charged to defend this great nation and we have to earn the trust placed on us by the American people every day! It takes each and every one of our Airmen, military and civilian, working together to accomplish our mission safely and effectively. This is all part of our compliance culture.

In August 2008, the Secretary of the Air Force and Chief of Staff of the Air Force stressed back to basics in order for the Air Force to maintain our nation's trust. For some of our more experienced Airmen, that is an easy phrase to understand. We remember the days of the Cold War and Strategic Air Command and the exacting standards that were expected. But what does it mean for the younger generation who entered the Air Force after Sept. 11? What does it mean for our newest Airmen I see at the First Term Airman Center every week?

'Back to basics' is focusing on the standard and meeting that standard every time. As I stated, it is doing the right things, the right way, for the right reasons as you attack every challenge of the day. While we strive to improve our processes and accomplish tasks more efficiently, we can't cut corners or take shortcuts that go against our tech orders or Air Force Instructions. During last year's series of inspections, all of us spent long hours reviewing records, analyzing data and examining our processes to ensure we were meeting the standard. In effect, we were ensuring we were operating in a 'compliance culture'. We were making sure regulations, tech orders and checklists were accomplished every time. However, we can't do it just to prepare for an inspection; we have to do it every day. That's what operating in a 'compliance culture' is all about.

So the challenge is simple; are you doing the right things, the right way, for the right reasons? Before you pull the wrench out of the tool box, before you operate a K-loader, before you take off on your sortie, before you conduct a surgical procedure, are you following the rules and doing it by the book? Officers and NCOs, are you teaching our newest Airmen to adhere to these demanding standards? Are you setting the example by following the Air Force core values of Integrity First, Service before self and Excellence in all we do?

A 'compliance culture' must be pervasive at all levels and across all functional areas. Operating within this compliance culture will allow us to keep our focus on the mission. In some cases, mistakes are made when corners are cut in order to save time or to check the job as complete rather than report a delay. This undisciplined approach is unacceptable and costly. This costs all of us because we have to spend time to go back and correct what was missed and often times, repair damage that was done in the process. Even worse, someone could be badly injured or even die!

It takes more than just words to develop a 'compliance culture.'

It takes action by leaders and subordinates and requires discipline and commitment by our entire team. If you follow regulations, technical orders and checklists every time, don't stop! If you've found yourself cutting corners, then make a commitment to change so we can all be successful in the future. As I said at the beginning, we are "America's First Choice" but we must earn that trust every day. We can do that through hard work, discipline and leadership ... by operating in a 'compliance culture.' Thanks for all you do to serve our great nation Team Travis ... AIRPOWER!!!