{"id":58618,"date":"2018-07-31T19:54:15","date_gmt":"2018-07-31T19:54:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/uncategorized\/2018\/07\/31\/commentary-the-air-force-is-not-designed-to-produce-good-leaders\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T21:04:44","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T21:04:44","slug":"commentary-the-air-force-is-not-designed-to-produce-good-leaders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/commentary\/2018\/07\/31\/commentary-the-air-force-is-not-designed-to-produce-good-leaders\/","title":{"rendered":"Commentary: The Air Force is not designed to produce good leaders"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Editor\u2019s note:<\/b> This commentary was written by an Air Force officer using a pseudonym. Military Times typically does not allow this, but we made an exception in this case to protect the author from serious ramifications to his career. The writer is not employed by Military Times, and the views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of Military Times or its editorial staff.<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being in a leadership position does not make you a leader<\/a>. Unfortunately, the Air Force officer system<\/a> sees it differently. We talk a good game, but the system \u2014 to include education, command screening<\/a> and evaluation of commanders \u2014 is seriously lacking. Why? I think the real reason is that leadership just doesn\u2019t matter in the officer system. There\u2019s no accountability and no consequences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people still make fun of the total force. Say what you will, the Guard has it right in at least one regard: Its leaders must sleep in the bed they\u2019ve made. There are few \u201cquick win, slash-n-burn, airman-crushing\u201d leaders in the Guard because they are forced to think longer-term about the care and sustainment of their airmen and units. When command climate surveys<\/a> come in, leadership teams pore over them to assess what they can do better. You want evidence that it works? Look at the retention rates in the active Guard.<\/p>\n\n\n\t