Why accountability matters to you Published Oct. 21, 2014 By Lt. Col. Eric Baugh 436th Dental Squadron DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- The question of accountability has elicited varying reactions from various people. Whereas some people welcome it as a way of proving their infallibility, others fear it because it is likely to expose them to scrutiny, and their shortcomings punished. The United States Air Force requires that all personnel and Airmen be accountable for themselves, their equipment, their actions and at times their fellow Airmen. The level of accountability that you have generally increases with rank, responsibility and/or authority. While they are related, both responsibility and accountability differ from authority in the respect that authority can be delegated, while both accountability and responsibility are universal and cannot be. In the military what does accountability mean? The obligation imposed by law or lawful order or regulation on an officer or other person for keeping accurate record of property, documents, or funds. The person having this obligation may or may not have actual possession of the property, documents, or funds. Accountability is concerned primarily with records, while responsibility is concerned primarily with custody, care, and safekeeping. In the Medical field accountability is defined as the moral and legal requirements of proper patient care. Why is accountability vital to the military? Remaining accountable is consistent with, and amounts to being dependable: Meeting set deadlines for completing assignments or missions; Meeting reporting times for all formations or move orders; Being in the right place at the right time: Doing the right thing at the right time and when no one else is watching. In this respect, accountability goes hand-in-hand with integrity. Not having accountability of yourself, others, and your equipment invites disaster. The two main responsibilities of any Airman in the military are to: 1) Accomplish the mission and 2) Ensure the welfare of fellow airmen. The Air Force has adopted many different techniques, AFIs, OIs, rules, regulations and procedures to help achieve this; however what is required in order to achieve either is to maintain 'order'. Being accountable for yourself, your equipment, your actions and your fellow Airman helps to promote order, mitigate risks and to prepare for what is needed to include the unexpected by helping to ensure functionality and lessen the unknown. Without accountability, our concept of integrity first would be a fallacy. Without accountability, our service before self would be meaningless. Without accountability, excellence in all we do would never be achieved.