Two rules

  • Published
  • By Maj. Earl Davis
  • commander, 436th Maintenance Squadron
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Today's Air Force isn't that much different than it was 23 years ago when I entered the Air Force. Our uniforms have changed, but one thing remained constant: we've never had enough people, money or time. Granted, back then, we had more people, but we also had more bases and airplanes. Not having enough people, money or time is as old as any military. Every military in the world has faced these three challenges and continues to face them. Since these three shortfalls are not going away anytime soon, we have to get out in front of them and manage them.

A long time ago, back when I was a Senior Airman, my squadron had just gotten a new commander. At his first Commander's Call, Lt. Col. Jim Hall merely stated, "I have two rules: safe and in accordance with." I remember thinking at the time, "What? That's it?" He went on to explain what those two rules meant. Though they sound simple enough, the two rules are quite complex.

Rule 1: Safe. Take the time to read the procedure again. Ask yourself if you have the right tools and protective equipment to perform the task. Seems simple enough. Do you have your reflective belt? Are your tools serviceable? Is there enough light and room to work? Are coveralls needed for the job? How far away is the job? Do you have to carry your equipment? Can you carry it by yourself? This rule applies everywhere.

Now apply this same rule when you are off duty. Maybe you are baking cookies and they are ready to come out of the oven. Do you have oven mitts? How close will your hands and arms be to the inside of the hot oven? Where will you put the hot cookie tray?

Rule 2: In Accordance With. Things break when technical guidance is not followed. Did you check the A-page in the T.O. for the date of the latest change? Has the procedure you are about to perform changed? Did you inventory your tools before and after the job? By not taking the time to fully understand the written procedures, a step may get missed or a part may get installed backwards. Missing a step or installing a part wrong can lead to an airplane not making its takeoff time and, ultimately, mission failure and possible injury or death.

Check yourself. Do you approach everything safe and in accordance with? When you look around your workplace or your home, is everything safe and in accordance with? Are your co-workers safe and in accordance with? If not, raise the issue to your supervisor. The idea is not to get anyone in trouble, but to be good stewards of our three precious resources: people, money, and time.

In these days of limited budgets, limited personnel and limited time, the Air Force needs everyone doing their part. The budget is not limitless. Having to replace a part that breaks due to something someone did takes time, money and people away from other things. The money spent on the replacement part could have been used to buy new printers or computers. Someone has to spend time replacing the part when that time could have been used elsewhere. It truly is a zero-sum game.

These two simple rules work hand in hand together. They apply to everything. By taking the time to do it safe and in accordance with, you'll discover you spend less time having to re-do things. Your productivity will increase. Following these two simple rules will keep you healthy and our airplanes in the air. Even now, all these years later, I am still amazed at how far reaching those two very simple rules really are.

Applying these two simple rules will keep our number one resource, our people, fully mission capable. With fully mission capable people managing our time and money properly, we can continue to meet our wing's mission: Deliver!