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The Air Force Needs Fewer Leaders and More Wrench-Turners–Here’s How to Get Them

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The Air Force Needs Fewer Leaders and More Wrench-Turners–Here’s How to Get Them
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Demetrious Moutos, left, Senior Airman Josef Thompson, 77th Aircraft Maintenance Unit (AMU) work together to finish loading munitions on an F-16CM Viper during the quarterly load crew competition at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, on Oct. 7, 2019. Airman 1st Class Jacob Gutierrez/U.S. Air Force photo
Battlefields Staff
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Commentary

There is a mega-corporation here in the United States where the CEO tells every employee that they must move up within the company and eventually achieve top executive status. Every entry-level role is expected to advance within a specified timeframe, and if you aren’t able to meet the advancement schedule you are summarily terminated. This requirement is levied on everyone. Janitors, cafeteria workers, mailroom personnel, building maintenance—everyone.

Dave Chamberlin served 38 years in the USAF and Air National Guard as an aircraft crew chief, where he retired as a CMSgt. He has held a wide variety of technical, instructor, consultant, and leadership positions in his more than 40 years of civilian and military aviation experience. Dave holds an Airframe and Powerplant license from the FAA, as well as a master's degree in aeronautical science. He currently runs his own consulting and training company and has written for numerous trade publications. His true passion is exploring and writing about issues facing the military, and in particular, aircraft maintenance personnel.
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