Enlisted leaders give perspectives to new officers

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Lisa Spilinek
  • 66th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
HANSCOM AFB, Mass. --  Four enlisted leaders from Hanscom sat down on Sept. 20 to discuss the traits and behaviors they like to see company grade officers display. 

The session was one of many held during Integration Week, a quarterly event that offers free classes to base personnel on a myriad of topics. 

The informal class featured four base senior noncommissioned officers: Chief Master Sgt. Tom Purtle, 66th Security Forces Squadron superintendent, Senior Master Sgt. Raul Ruiz, 66th Air Base Wing and Electronic Systems Center first sergeant, Senior Master Sgt. Kevin Wright, 66th Mission Support Group Communications Division superintendent, and Master Sgt. Laura Noel, Patriot Honor Guard superintendent. 

These individuals covered a variety of topics including mentorship, unprofessional relationships, being newly assigned to a unit, bolstering unit morale and being an exemplary leader. 

One topic that was discussed in depth between the panel and the eight officers in attendance, seven of whom were lieutenants, was subordinate leadership. 

Chief Purtle urged the officers to utilize their senior NCOs and first sergeants for information on their units, people and the way business is conducted within the units, to avoid doing something that would inadvertently have a negative effect. He said, "Your first sergeant will know the people side and your chief or senior enlisted member will know the operational side." 

"Trust your enlisted folks. Know when to lead and when to manage them," Sergeant Wright said. 

The chief encouraged the officers to be decisive, but think through decisions before making them. "The best thing you can do is consider and then decide. Try not to make hasty decisions, especially when you do not have all the information you need." he said. 

Another important part of being a leader is acknowledging failures and mistakes, Sergeant Noel said. She also said good leaders interact with subordinates and visit their troops in person rather than communicating via e-mail. 

Being an interactive leader boosts morale and unit productivity, said Sergeant Ruiz, who routinely leads military and civilian personnel alike in cheering "One Team, One Fight" during various unit and base functions. "Be involved with your unit, an involved leader fosters cohesion," he said. 

One way leaders can get involved is by attending unit functions, including intramural sporting events, ceremonies that celebrate enlisted force milestones, including Airman Leadership School and Community College of the Air Force graduations, as well as NCO and SNCO induction ceremonies. 

However, when a leader's support is directed toward an individual rather than the unit as a whole, an unprofessional relationship may be budding. 

The panel spoke about their personal experiences witnessing unprofessional relationships between officers and subordinates, especially in deployed environments. 

Even the appearance of such a relationship can have a detrimental effect on the unit's morale and the trust among its members, Sergeant Noel said. 

The panel speakers encouraged the officers to provide honest feedback even to less than stellar performers. "Have the courage to tell someone they are not meeting standards to their face," Chief Purtle said. 

The speakers also encouraged the officers to mentor their subordinates and support their careers and personal ambitions by fostering their educations and helping them to set and attain goals. 

The panel plans to hold another class presenting of Senior NCOs' perspectives during the next Integration Week, which is scheduled Nov. 10 to 14.