The reason why the squadron is, in General Goldfein’s words “the beating heart of the United States Air Force,” is simply because much like the heart without it the life blood would not be able to pump in order for the body to function as needed. Now the life blood of the Air Force is our ability to Fly, Fight, and Win, but that is the big Air Force answer. The life blood of the squadron is morale, and bad morale is like leukemia. Firsthand experience has shown what good morale can do in places deemed “worst bases in the Air Force.” From the outside looking in it is easy for someone to deem the weather, the operations tempo, or the mission as bad, but with the right amount of morale any squadron can be successful. This in turn allows the rest
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First off is inclusion, one of the most lethal issues for any squadron’s morale is for any one member to feel alienated or left out. When one Airman begins to grumble about the weather it can easily be seen as an indicator of not being included. Not because the weather is magically made better with friends, but because without feeling integral to a squadron as a family member would, that Airman begins to recognize what an outsider may deem “terrible.” Airman must feel they are necessary to not only to the bigger mission, but also to the beating heart of the squadron. There is no part of the heart that does not serve a purpose. Secondly is fun, simple word with a vast meaning. Inclusion and fun go hand in hand; and without downtime within the squadron, relationships are not able to build making the heart stronger. Fun is the cardiovascular workout for each squadron. Finally is family which really just umbrellas the other two concepts. As inclusion and fun become a priority the squadron becomes a family. Now with any family there will be problems, but the drive of the Airman will grow because they are working for their brothers and sisters rather than for the mission. This is important because at many bases the mission may not be clearly evident to every member at all times, but if a person is able to come into work, and see their family working hard they will too. By concentrating on inclusion, fun, and family any squadron’s morale will inevitably improve, which will improve the greater functioning of big Air
First off is inclusion, one of the most lethal issues for any squadron’s morale is for any one member to feel alienated or left out. When one Airman begins to grumble about the weather it can easily be seen as an indicator of not being included. Not because the weather is magically made better with friends, but because without feeling integral to a squadron as a family member would, that Airman begins to recognize what an outsider may deem “terrible.” Airman must feel they are necessary to not only to the bigger mission, but also to the beating heart of the squadron. There is no part of the heart that does not serve a purpose. Secondly is fun, simple word with a vast meaning. Inclusion and fun go hand in hand; and without downtime within the squadron, relationships are not able to build making the heart stronger. Fun is the cardiovascular workout for each squadron. Finally is family which really just umbrellas the other two concepts. As inclusion and fun become a priority the squadron becomes a family. Now with any family there will be problems, but the drive of the Airman will grow because they are working for their brothers and sisters rather than for the mission. This is important because at many bases the mission may not be clearly evident to every member at all times, but if a person is able to come into work, and see their family working hard they will too. By concentrating on inclusion, fun, and family any squadron’s morale will inevitably improve, which will improve the greater functioning of big Air