CONCEPT: Applying Core Values in a Command Setting

APPROXIMATE TIME: 1 hour

OBJECTIVES:

1. Identify CAP Core Values (knowledge)
2. Describe core values as the foundation for fulfilling command responsibilities (comprehension)
3. Apply knowledge and understanding of core values through use of case studies (application)

SUGGESTED MATERIALS: No additional materials are required. Refer to the Instructor Information   link in the User's Guide for the basic materials to teach a class.

INTRODUCTION:

The Air Force and CAP Core Values should be internalized and lived by each member and much of the responsibility to do so rests with each person. However, as a squadron commander, the Core Values establish the basic framework from which your squadron will take it’s direction so there are some unique and very special ways in which Core Values apply to squadron command. Col Timothy Timmons wrote in his book, Commanding An Air Force Squadron, "Commanding a squadron is the only time in your career whey you are simultaneously close to the mission and in command. Any duty below squadron command may be close to the mission, but the mission is being accomplished somebody else’s way. Duty above squadron command may involve command and doing things your way, but you are too far removed from the mission and the people. Squadron command is the one point in time when you have the best of both worlds."

"Commanding a squadron is not an easy task—a commander is fully involved in every aspect, nook, and cranny of the unit. The duty encompasses every second of every day the commander holds the unit flag; he must eat, sleep, and drink his squadron, full time. The commander’s job is unique in the unit; no other job approaches it in scope—the commander exists on his own turf" and must use the Core Values as the foundation for all squadron efforts.

This lesson looks at Core Values from the Commander’s perspective and highlights the fact that the manner in which the Commander applies Core Values on a daily basis sets the tone for the entire organization. It briefly defines each Core Value but the major thrust of this lesson is in dissecting the case studies, from the Commander’s perspective, to determine how to use Core Values as the framework for dealing with ethical issues.

PURPOSE/RATIONALE: The purpose of this lesson is to discuss and apply the CAP Core Values from the perspective of the unit commander to help him/her make core values a natural part of daily actions.

1. Briefly discuss CAP Core Values using definitions and basic examples.
2. Discuss the concept of "Command" and how it is different from all other jobs. Emphasize the point that the manner in which a commander uses (or doesn’t use, as the case may be) Core Values as the cornerstone of his/her leadership sets the stage for success or failure of the unit.
3. Use the following case studies to illustrate and stimulate discussion on use of Core Values.

Attention Step: (Slide 1)

Col Timothy Timmons wrote in his book, Commanding An Air Force Squadron, "Commanding a squadron is the only time in your career whey you are simultaneously close to the mission and in command. Any duty below squadron command may be close to the mission, but the mission is being accomplished somebody else’s way. Duty above squadron command may involve command and doing things your way, but you are too far removed from the mission and the people. Squadron command is the one point in time when you have the best of both worlds."

"Commanding a squadron is not an easy task—a commander is fully involved in every aspect, nook, and cranny of the unit. The duty encompasses every second of every day the commander holds the unit flag; he must eat, sleep, and drink his squadron, full time. The commander’s job is unique in the unit; no other job approaches it in scope—the commander exists on his own turf"

Lesson Objectives: (Slide 2)

Integrity is the very fiber of all core values, without it all other core values cannot prevail. It is the cornerstone for all that is moral and just in our society. It is more than simple honesty. It embraces other attributes such as courage, responsibility, accountability, justice, openness, self-respect, and humility. Practically it involves keeping commitments, being sincere, being honest in word and deed and expecting the same of others, accepting responsibility for one’s actions, and being a morally upright person. Former Air Force Chief of Staff, General Charles A. Gabriel said, "Integrity is the fundamental premise of service in a free society. Without integrity, the moral pillars of our military strength--public trust and self-respect--are lost."

The Air Force has a similar value called "service before self." We embrace this core value and reflect it in our spirit of volunteerism. It is the willingness and ability to give of oneself, sometimes at the ultimate sacrifice of life. Also, it goes beyond simply giving our time; it extends to the willingness to obey the rules and regulations of CAP, the Air Force and our nation. Ultimately, it means we must have respect for fellow members and practice self-discipline.

Excellence ordinarily means accomplishing the mission well and that’s a good place to start breaking down this concept. In the CAP, the nature of our mission demands we must focus on the results and get the job done right the first time and on time. Mission failure can have disastrous consequences and must not be tolerated.

Brigadier General (Ret.) Malham M Wakin, wrote in an article on AF Core Values; "Why strive for excellence, anyway? One answer to that question may seem wonderfully simple, perhaps some would rather I said "simple minded." If I settle for less than my best effort, then I must live with less than my best self, and I won't then like myself very much. I shall fall short of the kind of being I could have become; I may even be what modern psychiatrists suggest is very unhealthy--I may be ashamed of what I become."

Genuine respect involves viewing another person as an individual of fundamental worth. Obviously, this means that a person is never judged on the basis of his/her possession of an attritional that places him or her in some racial, ethic, economic, or gender-based category.

Why would a service chief say integrity is the most important responsibility of command? What makes it so special? It sets the tone for everything that unit stands for and determines effectiveness.

The commander must put aside personal goals/aspirations to concentrate on the needs of the squadron. It not only enables the commander to focus on squadron effectiveness in order to accomplish the mission, it establishes the precedent for all subordinate supervisors to act selflessly.

Once again, the commander sets the tone. If he/she establishes excellence as the standard and does not waiver, it encourages other to shoot for the stars.

The effectiveness of any organization is greatly dependent upon the environment in which people work. The commander must create an atmosphere where mutual respect abounds, making way for prosperity, innovation and excellence in serving this great nation.

You are the scout master for your base’s only Boy Scout troop. Your troop recently finished a lengthy fund raising drive and purchased some much-needed camping equipment to replace equipment that had been chewed up by mice in their scout hut. The troop now needs some decent, air-tight storage containers to help protect the equipment. Your are the commander of the local CAP squadron and you know that such containers have been gathering dust in your organization for some time. The containers had been used to ship spare aircraft parts and then put into a storeroom to get them out of the way. The containers are recyclable and could be sent back to depot.

LtCol Jones is the maintenance officer. Her troops, many of them young with little extra money and old cars, don’t have access to auto hobby shops which provide tools and resources to make repairs. Several of the airmen have asked for her permission to use squadron tools to do off-duty work on their own vehicles. She knows they’re unable to use the auto hobby shop so she decides to let her troops use CAP tools and made a CAP vehicle maintenance bay available to them.

Sunday morning Capt Roberts was planning to sleep in when the phone rang. Roberts answers the phone and is surprised to hear the flight commander, Maj White, say "I’m looking for volunteers to fill sandbags for a nearby community threatened by a flood." Capt Roberts says he has plans for the day and will not be able to help. He will see what he can do the following duty day.

Core Values should be second nature for all CAP members. However, let’s be honest with each other and admit that’s not the case. Therefore, it’s absolutely imperative that commanders establish the tone by espousing and demonstrating Core Values in everything he/she does.