Your most important job

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Andrea K. Gooden
  • 436 Medical Operations Squadron
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Throughout my career I have heard many people say, "the most important job you will have in the Air Force is ..." Some officers say squadron commander, others say group commander. Enlisted leaders will sometimes say being a first sergeant or a squadron superintendent. Others say, "It's the job you are currently in." I agree with all of these statements especially, "it's the job you are currently in." The Air Force and our senior leaders place us in certain jobs or positions for many reasons. We do not always know or fully understand these reasons. Even if we know the reasons, we may not agree. After 21 years, I have learned that while we may not understand initially, if we give our job 100 percent, regardless of the duty title, the reasons become apparent. However, there is one job that many are currently in that truly is the most important. This job is the job of the frontline supervisor.

I have always heard senior leaders voice how important the frontline supervisor's job is. Unfortunately, while I knew it was important, I didn't realize the depth of importance. Now that I have been a squadron commander for eleven months, I couldn't agree more! As the frontline supervisor, you have the greatest opportunity to know each Airman on a personal level. This doesn't mean being their best friend. However, it does mean knowing what is important to the individual, knowing what makes them tick--both professionally and personally. It also means knowing what their stressors are. It is not easy to be a in this position. You have many tasks to deal with every day. Once you become a frontline supervisor, the Air Force then adds the task of knowing those you supervise. This may sometimes be easy because you may be supervising someone who is an "open book" and always striving to be the best. However, not all will be. To complicate matters, you may be supervising someone who has had supervisors that did not do as well as they should have. The reasons for this will vary and may be valid. However, for the individual, it may still have led to a bad experience with their previous supervisor and therefore their trust is broken. In these instances it is important to go back to a previous statement. The Air Force and our senior leaders place us in certain jobs or positions for many reasons.

Since becoming a commander, I have seen frontline supervisors making a difference, ranging from financial to spiritual guidance. Frontline supervisors across this wing have saved lives and it just does not get any more important than this! Therefore, embrace the job of being every Airman's frontline supervisor with enthusiasm regardless of how "easy" they are to supervise. In doing this you will make a difference!