Building the Future
Yes, this blog does include a short movie starring George Jones, but you will have to provide your own popcorn. As I was watching this video the other day, it reminded me how important it is for us to train our replacements and groom our young folks for positions of leadership within AFSA.
From the retired member perspective I can tell you that the Air Force doesn’t skip a beat as you walk out the door. The number one reason for this phenomenon is due to the concerted effort of Airmen to train their replacements. Because of this effort, the people, the policies, and the aircraft have changed over the last 60 plus years, but the Air Force mission is always accomplished. This effort must also be reflected within our AFSA chapters if we are to continue as an organization.
I’ll admit, I was not the best AFSA member at one time. I’d join for a couple years and then my membership would lapse. Finally I’d re-up, and then a couple years later I’d lapse once again. I repeated this cycle over most of my Air Force career until I met SMSgt Steve Zalesky. I have to give credit to Steve for being my initial mentor within AFSA but he was definitely not my last.
When I went to my first division convention, I met folks like Jay Hyde, Bud Kolwitz, and Mike Carton. As we started our convergence with Division 9 I also had the honor to meet Steve Francis, Mike Parente, and Don Sullivan. These AFSA leaders developed an entire generation of “younger” AFSA leadership in people like Charlie Dalzell, Denise Roberts, Dale Lutzen, Steve Zalesky, Terry Turner, and countless others. Because of them, I have become a better leader within our organization.
We need to continue to seek out the best in AFSA and groom them to become experts within our organization. We need to encourage them to run for trustee positions and to take on specific chapter areas of responsibility such as membership, plans and programs, and legislative affairs. We need to hold their hand and teach them what it takes to be successful within their specific area of responsibility and once they become effective we need to encourage them to move on to master another skill set. Our Senior Airmen and below are our most critical asset. Without them, there is no future for this organization. We need to get them involved, make them feel like a contributing member of the chapter team, and put them into positions of responsibility.
Right now there is a young Airman who might be in your chapter that will become the International President of our organization 20 to 30 years from now. I encourage each of you to take an Airman under your wing to ensure we have the best leadership pool available to ensure our organization’s future success.
SMSgt (ret) Gary Swanson, Division 89 Trustee