Letter to a newly commissioned officer entering the USAF
(The setting is at the USAF Academy during and after Commissioning ceremonies)

Your mind is full of things that continue to harass your normal thinking processes and wonder if you are ready to become a member of this organization that has taken you into its arms some four years ago and training and nurtured you to the point of being totally immersed in becoming a part of the United States Air Force.

You are brought up to reality when you find a tug on the arm and a reminder that someone who you knew back in high school that was part of a team of retired Air Force folks that provided your school a resource for learning all about Aerospace Science and other special skills that made you a better citizen as well as a stepping stone into your acceptance and graduation from the Air Force Academy.

The Chief and your family are gathered now to sort of give you an historical start into your new life. As the Chief faces you and renders a very snappy salute – you return it with a major feeling of pride as you participate in one of the oldest traditions of the service. Your first salute from an enlisted person. You render the appropriate response as well as giving to the enlisted person…..a new shiny Silver Dollar and participated in a piece of military history that lets you receive those salutes that recognizes that you have earned that special military rite of passage to the commissioned ranks.

You remember what was harassing your mind earlier and ask the Chief if he can give you one last bit of advice before you leave. "What can you tell me that would help me when I report for duty at my first assignment"?

As you both sit down quietly - you remember that the Chief has had a significant career that was a few days over 30 years and during your AFJROTC days recall that he had some significant assignments during those 30+ years. 5 Years with the Senior ROTC program, 3 Years with the Inter-American Air Forces Academy, and 9 years serving on the Faculty of the Air Force Academy. That must give him some credence in knowing not only what it takes to become a commissioned officer but also some of the thoughts on how to take all of your training and education and put it to work. He said…….

“Just remember that all the years of your training – you had to start at the lower parts of the organization, you had to be the cadet that got the job of bringing up the rear – the cadet that had to wait last in line. Over your four years here at the Academy, as you became more advanced in the organization, you got more responsibility, more authority and were looked upon by your peers as one of the leaders. This did not come overnight. You worked hard over those past years; you learned to “wait your turn”, you learned that with time and experience you would advance and assume more responsibility. “Your time will come” and you will be better prepared as you learn that others are there to help you along the way.

The Chief continued ...“Don’t forget that there are other professionals in the organization that want you to succeed and are there to do just that. Non commissioned Officer’s in the Air Force have had many years of professional education and the Senior level NCO’s are in positions of management and responsibilities that you will find yourself assigned as a young 2nd Lt and in a position of “rank and responsibility” higher in that of the that senior NCO obviously. And this is where you need to let that NCO help you in your quest for success and understand that he wants you to succeed as the Officer in Charge of that unit, he has no reason to work against that goal.

His professional training and education is dedicated to the mission and goals of the unit and that includes being there for you when you are learning and “finding your way”. Learn quickly that the “team” includes both commissioned and non-commissioned officer’s and the two work as a team for mission accomplishment. Do not become one of those “page 92” officers that thought that enlisted personnel were unskilled and un-professional “and sly and cunning and bear watching”. The enlisted force in today’s Air Force receives constant education and training in leadership and management skills and this leads to have a total force of “airman” of all ranks.

My final personal advice to you as you enter your new role as a commissioned officer is to recall all the training and skills you learned over the past four years that led to your oath of office and that those enlisted forces serving along side of you have also taken an “oath”. Thiers is to support the mission of the Air Force and they also share the same legacy of pride in mission accomplishment….They are very much a member of the Air Force Team. Don’t be shy nor think it beyond your rank to ask for help and advice.

“We all Fly and Fight to Win”

John E Schmidt Jr
CMSgt, USAF (Retired)

Chapter 419
Colonel H. M. “Bud” West Chapter
Tallahassee, Florida