What Can Businesses Learn the United States Air Force?

The United States Air Force Logo

The United States Air Force. One of the strongest components of any military in the world. 

Technically savvy, professional minded, and mission focused; The USAF proves time and time again to be a force to be reckoned with. In its short history, it has provided the world with GPS, the Internet, Super-Sonic flight, and space travel. No other organization today has had more world changing ideas and products. 

Why? 

What does the Air Force have that businesses don't? How is it that they can take mostly high school graduates and maintain a complicated fleet of aircraft, a network of cyber-security specialist, and still push the buttons of innovation? I hope just these small few lessons about purpose, values, education, and professionalism can be imparted to businesses everywhere so that they can achieve a sliver of what the United States Air Force has.

Talk to most Airmen. They know why they're apart of the Air Force. They know why they serve, why they're job is important. Businesses should try to achieve this in their employees. Every employee should know their purpose inside the company. They fill a need inside the company and they should feel that they're striving for something bigger than themselves. Every business has a purpose. No, making money is not a purpose. Making money is a result.

People need to feel they're important and leaders must ensure this need is fulfilled. Without people businesses would fail, the department would feel the void if that role wasn't filled. Once people feel needed, feel they have a purpose, their work output will kick into hyper-drive. Airman all over the world know that their job is critical to the success of the USAF. This is why the Air Force has been able to achieve such a massive amount with its small numbers.

The Air Force has one piece that is built into its fabric. The core values. Every Airman knows them, knows what they mean, and knows how to apply them to their life. The USAF's Core Values are: Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence in All We Do. These values, instilled in all Airman, provide two key purposes. They build a foundation for what Airman should strive to become and they form a common set of beliefs for all members of the USAF.

Notice that the Core Values are a call to action. Many companies have integrity listed as a value, but the Air Force puts a modifier to it. Integrity First. Integrity before all things. It's this simple, second word that provides the value with power. "First" makes it an action, not just a word. This idea goes for every one of the Core Values. Service before self; Place Service to your country and the mission before your goals and yourself. Excellence in all we do; Excellence should be a part of every single thing you accomplish. Each Core Value calls to action.

What values build the foundation of your company or your workforce? Providing this foundation helps businesses build strong morals and fibers into every piece of its being. A strong company needs a strong foundation else it will topple over. Please, don't just state values. A companies core values should call their workers to action, bring them to the best they can be. The best employees, the best teams, make the best businesses.

The Core Values also form a common set of beliefs in Airmen. Simon Simek has stated, "when we're surrounded by people that believe what we believe something magical happens. Trust emerges." When trust is formed, people no longer worry about just themselves .They look to provide for the group. The  USAF is a prime example of this. "Brothers and Sisters" are the names Airman call each other. This family mindset helps fuel Airman when the mission has beaten them down. Can certain companies say the same thing? A lot of companies continually beat down their employees without any sense of purpose or community and then wonder why their customers feel the same way.

Tuition assistance, Field Training Detachments, Professional Military Development; The U.S. Air Force believes in education. Almost yearly, Airman around the world receive some sort of training and are provided even more opportunities for personal development. Self improvement plays such a key role in the force that development is sighted in the yearly Enlisted Performance Report. Self improvement is even encouraged through the USAF's Enlisted Performance Report. This high priority on training has produced one of the most technically proficient organizations on the planet. They cultivate leaders, produce high quality technicians, and develop an educated work force as a fundamental part of their mission. An Airman is a  professional to the highest standards both in the field and with in the cultural confines of an office place. Every Airman, in the words of Simon Simek, is an innovator.

Businesses need to adopt this mindset. Companies must be unafraid of developing their talent. When we cultivate education and the pursuit of technical mastery (while providing the opportunities for the employees), we build loyalty and trust. Businesses should know by now, in this age of information, loyal and trusting employees make bigger impacts. Bigger impacts push a company to a higher and higher standard while fulfilling the company's purpose.

One final point. Every Airman is a professional. From the dirtiest aircraft mechanic to the polished personnelist, professionalism runs deep. Talk to any enlisted Airman that's made it more than a few years in the service and see that professionalism shine through them. Business is business, their mind on the mission. Airman are the most respectful, polite, and honest people I've ever met. This utmost level of professionalism is something we should all try to achieve.

Do not be fooled, however. Their professionalism and honesty is both refreshing and brutal. An Airman's honesty is true honesty. They are not afraid of telling it like it is. Because this lack of fear, They tend to come off as rude to those that don't know the ways of the military. Trust me, its not rudeness. Airmen care about their cause and the quality of their work. They have the courage to give feedback, to let people know when they're not performing to the standard. Businesses need to take this lesson the most. Many people are afraid of giving criticism, they're afraid of hurting feelings. This hurts everyone and still doesn't help the low performer.  By providing real and honest feedback, we can develop employees and shore up their weaknesses. Making the company stronger and stronger as a result.

The USAF has taught me valuable lessons, It has taught me to lead, manage, mentor, and work towards technical mastery. It has taught me about role models and how to achieve that status. The people around me in the force has taught me about community, teamwork, and working towards a common goal. These are important life lessons that have molded me into the man I am today. I hope , through me, the United States Air Force can also teach theses lessons to the businesses and people its been sworn to protect. 

I'll leave you with one last thing. The Airman's Creed. The Creed is a picture of what Airman should strive for and a reminder of who we are. Pay attention to the last stanza. Every business, martial or commercial, can learn from it. Never leave a Wingman behind.

The Airman's Creed