NCO's past, present and future.

To all NCO's past, present and future.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T
The tie that binds the NCO corps

By Master Sgt. Mark Haviland
Air Combat Command Public Affairs
03/10/2006 -- LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va., (ACCNS) -

The transition to noncommissioned officer, and later, to senior noncommissioned officer can be a daunting experience for any Airman, but Chief Master Sgt. David
Popp, Air Combat Command's command chief has a few words of advice for
those who make the journey.

The key to success, Chief Popp says, is respect - not only earning it
and keeping it, but also understanding the fundamentals behind the word
itself, and it's a message he delivers regularly to newly minted NCOs
and SNCOs:

R = Responsibility
"Winston Churchill once said, 'The price of greatness is responsibility.'
The "R" in the word "respect" stands for Responsibility.
As an NCO in the world's greatest air and space force, we expect you to stand up
and step up to your responsibilities," the chief said.
"It is your responsibility to ensure the Airmen are housed properly,
trained properly, equipped properly, and ready to deploy to carryout the
mission."

E = Example
"What you do speaks so loudly, your Airmen may not hear what you're
saying!
Gen. George S. Patton once said, 'Troops, you're always on parade!'

"You're an example to your fellow Airmen when you're in the shoppette
Saturday night when you've got your earring in and are purchasing those
three cases of Miller Light. You're an example to your fellow Americans
when you deploy to fight the hurricanes, floods, or forest fires,"

Chief Popp explained. "And you're an example when you wear this uniform
overseas, driving that convoy or working at the Camp Bucca Interment
Center. To earn respect, you must set the right example."

S = Standards
"If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything! If you
don't enforce the Standards, then who will? Never, never, never
apologize for enforcing our high standards. When we don't enforce the technical
orders, the AFIs, the General Orders - Equipment gets wrecked, people's
lives are placed in jeopardy, and our fight to win the GWOT gets set
back.
To earn respect, you must stand up and enforce the standards."

P = Performance
"There is no second place in war; you either win or you lose! NCOs are
responsible for their individual performance, their team's performance,
and the overall outcome of the mission. This war on terrorism is much
bigger than Iraq or Afghanistan. When you put on our team's jersey, this
is a joint fight - that's why it says, US-AF, US-Army, US-Navy,
US-Marines.

"Many NCOs now are familiar with 15 straight years of deployments to
Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Operations Northern and Southern Watch,
Operation Iraqi Freedom I/II, and Operation Enduring Freedom.
As we move into Phase IV we will be asking all Airmen to step up and perform at 100 percent of their ability. To earn respect, you must continue to perform."

E = Evaluate
"How do you evaluate those daily crisis', issues, and problems brought
to you?

"I believe every NCO shows up to these fiery situations with a bucket
in each hand. In the left is a bucket of water and in the right is a
bucket of gasoline," the chief said. "Which one do you use? The water to
extinguish the situation or the gasoline to get it roaring out of
control? I challenge NCOs to get the facts before they use either bucket --
evaluate the situation before you empty one of those buckets. To earn
respect, you must evaluate before you take action."

C = Communications
"I have found that Airmen are always down on what they are not up on.
How well do you share the 'big picture' with your Airmen? How well do
you provide your performance expectations to your Airmen? Do you share
with them: the Who, the Where, the When, and most importantly the Whys?
To earn respect, you must keep the lines of communications open."

T = Taking car of the Airmen
"Your Airmen do not care how much you know -- until they know how much
you care about them!

"If I asked you to tell me about your Top 3 performing Airmen, could
you?

Could you tell me their: Date Arrived Station, family status, hobbies, goals, their CDC score, or their PT Score?

Could you tell me what they did last weekend?

"Sadly, what I routinely find across our Air Force are supervisors who
can only tell me these things after a suicide, a fatality, or serious
accident has occurred.

"To earn respect, you must know and take care of your Airmen."

To all NCO's past, present and future.

Chaplain (1LT) Lonnie J. Potter
Aide-de-Camp
Kentucky Brigade, Third Division
United States Corps of Chaplains