Sharing Success Owning Failure Preparing To Command In The Twenty First Century Air Force

"Then-colonel David L. Goldfein discusses several themes central to a successful command tour. His ideas and questions will spark your imagination as you begin preparing for the task ahead of you--squadron commander. He shares stories from other squadron commanders that include both success and failure because, as Goldfein states, "it is from studying our failures that we learn, grow, and improve as officers and leaders." Maj Gen Charles D. Link, USAF, retired, states that "this book is a must-read, not only for those selected to command a squadron but for all our young officers." General Goldfein is the current chief of staff of the Air Force."--

The single most important element of success in war is leadership. Leaders inspire others to achieve "above and beyond." The expectations of both leader and follower play key roles in the development of leadership, as do the leader's vision, the working environment, and the example established by the leader. The squadron commander is essential to accomplishing the mission of the United States Air Force. He or she must ensure that justice prevails among and between those commanded, and he or she must establish programs that promote health and happiness among the families within the command.

In Sharing Success - Owning Failure, Colonel Goldfein discusses several themes central to a successful command tour. He expresses ideas and puts forth questions to spark your imagination as you begin preparing for the task ahead of you-squadron commander. He shares stories from other squadron commanders that include both success and failure. Because, as Colonel Goldfein states, "it is from studying our failures that we learn, grow, and improve as officers and leaders." In the Foreword, Maj Gen Charles D. Link, USAF, Retired, says "this book is a must-read, not only for those selected to command a squadron but for all our young officers." Command is the ultimate service. It is a time when we have the singular responsibility to create and lead strong Air Force units. A time when our passion for our Air Force and our vision for its future must be overwhelmingly clear. Early in the "Developing Aerospace Leaders" initiative, we began to focus on the way in which the institution teaches leadership and prepares airmen for command. What we found was a wide range of practices and a wide range of expectations-a complicating factor in today's Expeditionary Aerospace Force. We realize that preparing our officers to command effective, mission-oriented units must be a deliberate process. It must develop our unique airman perspective, creating commanders who are able to communicate the vision, have credibility in the mission area, and can lead our people with inspiration and heart. The foundation of our institution's effectiveness has always been its leaders. Colonel Goldfein's work provides valuable lessons learned and serves as a worthwhile tool to optimize your effectiveness as a squadron commander. This book is a must-read, not only for those selected to command a squadron but for all our young officers, helping them understand what the requirements of squadron command will be. Remember, command is a unique privilege-a demanding and crucial position in our Air Force. Contents * Foreword * PREFACE * ABSTRACT * 1 EXPECTATIONS OF COMMAND * What Does the Boss Expect? * What Do the Troops Expect? * What Do You Expect? * Notes * 2 VISION AND ENVIRONMENT * Developing and Communicating Your Vision * Building the Environment * Notes * 3 WALKING THE WALK * Notes * 4 HANDLING JUSTICE * 5 GREAT IDEAS * Take Responsibility for Fun * Sponsor Program * Celebrate Heroes-Not Machines * Mentoring Program * Notes * CONCLUSION * BIBLIOGRAPHY

Command is the ultimate service. It is a time when we have the singular responsibility to create and lead strong Air Force units. A time when our passion for our Air Force and our vision for its future must be overwhelmingly clear. Early in the "Developing Aerospace Leaders" initiative, we began to focus on the way in which the institution teaches leadership and prepares airmen for command. What we found was a wide range of practices and a wide range of expectations - a complicating factor in today's Expeditionary Aerospace Force. We realize that preparing our officers to command effective, mission-oriented units must be a deliberate process. It must develop our unique airman perspective, creating commanders who are able to communicate the vision, have credibility in the mission area, and can lead our people with inspiration and heart. The foundation of our institution's effectiveness has always been its leaders. Colonel Goldfein's work provides valuable lessons learned and serves as a worthwhile tool to optimize your effectiveness as a squadron commander. This book is a must-read, not only for those selected to command a squadron but for all our young officers, helping them understand what the requirements of squadron command will be. Remember, command is a unique privilege - a demanding and crucial position in our Air Force. "Sharing Success - Owning Failure" takes you a step closer to successfully meeting that challenge.

"Jeffry Smith updates the earlier release of Col Timothy T. Timmon's Commanding an Air Force Squadron (1993). In this book, which includes a foreword by Gen John P. Jumper and an introduction by Colonel Timmons, USAF, retired, Colonel Smith relies on the vast "insights, experiences, and recommendations" of former and current commanders to identify the attributes of a successful commander at multiple levels. He identifies some issues commanders face regardless of the level of command, including counseling personnel, dorm inspections, commanders' calls, money management, and the roles of spouses and families. According to Colonel Smith, the conduct of individuals in times of crises is the truest barometer of a good commander."--Publisher website.

In the pantheon of air power spokesmen, Giulio Douhet holds center stage. His writings, more often cited than perhaps actually read, appear as excerpts and aphorisms in the writings of numerous other air power spokesmen, advocates-and critics. Though a highly controversial figure, the very controversy that surrounds him offers to us a testimonial of the value and depth of his work, and the need for airmen today to become familiar with his thought. The progressive development of air power to the point where, today, it is more correct to refer to aerospace power has not outdated the notions of Douhet in the slightest In fact, in many ways, the kinds of technological capabilities that we enjoy as a global air power provider attest to the breadth of his vision. Douhet, together with Hugh “Boom” Trenchard of Great Britain and William “Billy” Mitchell of the United States, is justly recognized as one of the three great spokesmen of the early air power era. This reprint is offered in the spirit of continuing the dialogue that Douhet himself so perceptively began with the first edition of this book, published in 1921. Readers may well find much that they disagree with in this book, but also much that is of enduring value. The vital necessity of Douhet’s central vision-that command of the air is all important in modern warfare-has been proven throughout the history of wars in this century, from the fighting over the Somme to the air war over Kuwait and Iraq.

This study used a variety of data sources and interviews with squadron, group, and wing commanders to develop recommendations for how the Air Force can address commander responsibilities, improve commander preparation, and refine resource monitoring.