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Fitness, the Airman Battle Uniform, a little in between

  • Published
  • By Chief Master Sgt. Terry Hotz
  • 305th Maintenance Squadron
MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, NJ. --  First thing I need to do is to let ya'll know (since we are a sensitive society these days) the opinions expressed here are my own, and it's only a coincidence if you agree with them. 

Now I've been around now for about 23 years and some change, and there's a lot going on in and around our Air Force these days, so I'm going to offer my view on some of the issues at hand. First, I'd like to applaud the efforts of the HAWC and other Team McGuire members for the steps they are taking to make us a fit force. This Boot Camp thing is a great program and should have wakened a few of us up. Fitness is serious business these days...always should have been but it hasn't always been. I know there have been some rumblings of "I can't afford to send my troops to this program because I need them at work." Well my response to that is, "Shame on us for having to have it in the first place. It's not like this fitness idea just showed up one day. You do realize if they don't get fit they may not be showing up for work at all in the near future. And by the way, I support the decision to add the fitness information on the new EPR and OPR. It's time to wake up and take fitness seriously. 

Speaking of people showing up for work, or in the future "not" showing up for work, are you ready for the manning cuts? As we run around trying to figure out how we are going to continue to support the mission with a force draw down, we need to be reminded this panic could have been avoided. No, not by reversing the decision to draw down (I agree we need it), but preparing years ago for it. Back in the late 80s, early 90s we had this thing called Quality Air Force (QAF). Wow! I can actually hear the boos and hisses from the old timers. It was all about doing our jobs smarter, more efficient and eliminating waste from our processes. In the late 90s a new program hit the streets (evidence of QAF was burned and shredded) and it was called "Action Workout." Its purpose was to do our jobs smarter, more efficient and eliminate waste from our processes. Oh, oh I bet you can see where I'm going with this. Yes, here we are 20 years later and this new thing called AFSO 21 is all the buzz. Take a guess at what it is supposed to do. The truth is there was nothing wrong with the first two programs other than poor execution and failure of leadership to keep them going. If you're not adopting AFSO 21 into your operations you're missing the boat. Leadership is behind it, we have experts on base and above all, this program works! We have dozens, okay maybe a dozen, examples as proof that it works, so let's get out there and start doing our jobs smarter, more efficient and eliminate waste in our processes. The manning cuts do not have to hurt, but they will if we're not ready. 

Along the theme of cutting waste from our processes is some of this annual training that has been levied upon us. Now I'm not saying the subjects are not important, but I am saying there is too much and most of it is probably not required until you are actually going to interact within the environment for which the subject is about. I will refrain from mentioning any specific training, but my point is we are in the military, or are working for the military and are expected to act in a manner above reproach. When you don't, you are held accountable and suffer the consequences ... it's pretty simple. I'm not sure we need some of this training to tell us doing these things is not professional. 

Well on to a little lighter subject. What do you think of the new Airman Battle Uniform? Well let me tell you, I like it! We can't get it fast enough, and I might even volunteer for the next AEF just to get it. Forget the color ... no ironing! Do you know how much I hate ironing? Sure I could take my uniforms to the dry cleaners and get those neat little faded circles on my pockets from the buttons, or maybe those really cool pressed wrinkles that are now there for life. No, I'd rather spend my time at home after a long 12-hour plus day ironing away instead of relaxing with my family, or maybe I'll get up at 4:30 a.m. just in case I actually did relax with the family the night before. Let's face it, the only reason we iron our current BDU is because everyone else does and we would certainly stand out if we didn't. And how about this, no more shining boots! Those of you who are married can appreciate that. Ever get that look from your spouse as you get out your black shoe polish and prepare to polish your boots on the tan carpeting? Yeah, you know what I'm talking about. The only thing I don't like about the new uniform was the claim that pockets were added so tools could be carried in them. I'm a maintainer; we do not put tools in our pocket...that's a bad thing. The wear instructions just hit the streets a few weeks ago, so I encourage those who will be wearing it to start reading so when you receive it you will wear it with pride. 

On a final note (for those still reading this), I want to talk about the NCO creed. Now before everyone who is not an NCO stops reading, hear me out. I had the opportunity the other day to read it to my squadron's newest NCOs, and as I was reading it aloud I wondered why it did not apply to every one regardless of rank or status. The creed talks about fulfilling responsibilities and displaying professionalism at all times. Communicating with supervisors, your people and never leaving them uninformed. It talks about exerting every effort and risking any ridicule to successfully accomplish your assigned tasks. Not looking at a person and seeing any race, creed, color, religion, sex or national origin, but only the person. Carrying out the orders of your superiors to the best of your ability and always obeying the decisions of your superiors. And it talks about never compromising your integrity nor your moral courage. Do these words not apply to every one in the worlds greatest Air Force? Certainly they apply to everyone here at Team McGuire. 

I hope you enjoyed the article and my view on just a few subjects affecting our Air Force today. I could have continued but I was limited on space. It was not only meant to entertain but to make you think. So stay healthy, stay safe and above all, stay engaged with issues affecting our Air Force.