U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. -- Editor’s note – To ensure privacy and promote an open dialogue, the names of the Airmen who attended the forum are not mentioned in this report.
The Air Force Academy’s director of staff and command chief hosted an “open mike” forum for senior airmen and below assigned to the headquarters staff to voice to their concerns March 1.
The event comes in the wake of a climate assessment survey at the Academy last year; some surveyed who identified themselves as junior airmen said they felt undervalued.
About 10 Airmen attended and asked Gail Colvin and Chief Master Sgt. Max Grindstaff questions about supervision, teamwork, local uniform policy, morale-building events, and assignment selection and retention, among other topics.
“We just want to make sure we have open lines of communication and getting together is a great way to do that,” said Colvin, a retired colonel and an Academy graduate. “We plan to do this again every quarter.”
When the topic turned to retention, Colvin said serving in the Air Force is about opportunity.
“I served 30 years and I got hooked,” she said. “Think about all the opportunities the Air Force provides to develop ourselves.”
The selection process for special duty positions and controlled tours should not discourage Airmen from applying, Colvin said.
“It’s about performance,” she said. “If you do the best job you can where you’re at, you will get support from your chain to take advantage of opportunities.”
The event opened with each Airman introducing themselves and stating their reasons for enlisting. Most said they joined the Air Force because of the educational benefits.
“The goal here is to make sure your service is as beneficial to you as possible,” Grindstaff said. “We want to make your assignment at the Academy as meaningful as possible. Whether you stay in for four years or for 30, we all have one thing in common because of that service -- we all own a part of the U.S. Flag.”
A senior airman at the event said joining the Air Force opened doors he didn’t expect.
“The best part is that other families opened up to my family and approached my parents,” he said. “They said, ‘Hey, your son is in the Air Force. I’m a vet, too.’ Being in the Air Force is almost like being part of a legacy.”
The chief also talked about what he called the Air Force’s intangible benefits, such as camaraderie and teamwork.
“There are lots of intangible benefits to continuing to serve, such as helping people out, for one,” he said. “Serving others embodies what it means to serve in the Air Force.”
Colvin and Grindstaff said they will work to inform lower-ranking Airmen of events that may benefit them at the Academy, such as the chance to attend educational or motivational-speaking events normally given to cadets. They’ll also work to schedule quarterly team-building days and events.
Most Airmen at the Academy and in the Air Force are senior airmen or of a lower rank, with airmen first class representing the largest percentage of uniformed Airmen, according to Air Force Personnel Center statistics.
As the director of staff, Colvin manages the administrative responsibilities of the Academy’s headquarters staff.
Grindstaff advises the Academy superintendent and senior staff on matters of military readiness, morale, quality of life and professional development of more than 9,000 active duty staff and cadets.
Future "open 'mike" events for mid-level managers are in the works, Colvin said.