But don’t forget, if you get out, the bad guys win

  • Published
  • By Maj. Michael Tomm
  • 436th Contracting Squadron
Everyone has their reason for staying. I've thought about, pondered, lamented ... on the seemingly never answered self question to stay in or separate. Why should I stay? Aside from a recruiting pitch on esprit de corps, and the nowadays timely relevance of medical, pay and leave benefits, why do I stay? I have ten years of federal contracting experience, coupled with a Top Secret clearance. I've worked with both local businesses for services or construction and the larger defense contractors such as Raytheon, Lockheed Martin and Rockwell Collins. With them I would negotiate a "routine modification" in the millions, which is bottom line rounded to the thousands, diminishing in scale its actual impact.

So why not take the experience and run? Within the last few years the outside offers have only increased and those were to people with less credentials than myself. I stay because 11 years ago I was sold on the other intangibles the Air Force could provide - leadership opportunities, challenges and a unique experience.

As I write this I'm beginning my time as commander for the 436 Contracting Squadron - what a leadership opportunity! Challenging? Every day - all day, weekends and holidays. Unique experience? More than one person could ask for, and more than I thought I'd see 11 years ago.

Growing up there was the Cold War and Russia was the enemy. The movies on beta depicted the Soviets as having to wait in line for everything, from shoes to groceries. And then in the spring of 2004, I deployed as a contracting squadron commander to Manas Air Base, Kygryz Republic. A former Soviet republic, I saw what I never thought I would see in person - the hammer and sickle. I refer to Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf's biography, "There are two ways to approach it. No. 1 is to get out; No. 2 is to stick around and someday, when you have more rank, fix the problems. But don't forget, if you get out, the bad guys win." Now that's leadership.

But who are the bad guys? For me it's been past supervisors who put a feedback date on my Officer Performance Report without actually conducting feedback, gave me enough rope to hang myself then told me how to hang myself (micromanaged) or worse, in my opinion, those who were unaware or failed to use Air Force Policy Directive 36-34 or Air Force Instruction 36-3401, both on mentoring. There are other "bad guys" too, but when I think about my past, I don't want others to have to live it or repeat it. I want to be part of the solution to retain our best, brightest and hardest-working Airmen and ensure they are taken care of now more than ever with a 1 to 1 dwell.

Another way to summarize why I stay and continue to serve is a joke told to me as a second lieutenant: "Hey Lt, there are two useless ranks in the Air Force - and they are both gold." Funny? On the scathing side, yes but I stay in to prove it untrue. I've seen one of those gold ranks and now wear my second.

Why do you stay? And if you continue to stay, will you be part of the problem or the solution?