{"id":31120,"date":"2020-10-22T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-10-22T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/10\/22\/can-public-recognition-of-achievements-help-the-air-force-retain-pilots-this-officer-thinks-so\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T20:49:42","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T20:49:42","slug":"can-public-recognition-of-achievements-help-the-air-force-retain-pilots-this-officer-thinks-so","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/opinion\/2020\/10\/22\/can-public-recognition-of-achievements-help-the-air-force-retain-pilots-this-officer-thinks-so\/","title":{"rendered":"Can public recognition of achievements help the Air Force retain pilots? This officer thinks so."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Air Force units regularly pause their activities to celebrate behaviors and actions that hew to our core values of service and excellence. We attend promotion, reenlistment, award, graduation, and retirement ceremonies to recognize the meritorious actions of our airmen publicly. By honoring their accomplishments and dedication, we show our airmen that we see the light that shines bright inside them. We show them they are valued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Equally important as honoring the individual is the public recognition of imitable behaviors for our airmen to emulate. Whenever I see young senior airmen raise their hands, in the presence of their friends and family, to take an oath-of-enlistment, I am humbled and moved to rededicate myself. They are writing a blank check to the country and forgoing a lot of other opportunities in order to continue serving. Watching colleagues receive the award of a Bronze Star or Distinguished Flying Cross for their actions downrange makes me proud and want to be brave and heroic, too. These ceremonies are important because they affect and move us. <\/p>\n\n\n\t