AFMC Command News

'Hold the Line' initiative gets under way within command

  • Published
  • By Kim Dawley
  • Air Force Materiel Command Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  In a Commander's Log sent via e-mail Sept. 30, 2010, Gen. Donald Hoffman asked the Air Force Materiel Command workforce to get back to basics.

"Starting in October, we will reintegrate basic military activities, customs, and traditions to foster increased interaction among our Airmen," said the AFMC commander.

The Commander's Log was a follow-up to a May commentary by Chief Master Sgt. Eric Jaren, AFMC Command Chief, who encouraged Airmen to hold the line in maintaining several traditional practices that he said undergird personal accountability.

That emphasis on personal accountability led to AFMC launching its 'Hold the Line' campaign, aimed at reinvigorating the command's maintenance of standards, discipline and service culture.

"Look at your team, flight or branch, squadron or division, group or directorate, and find optimal means to reinvigorate basic unit activities, complete the mission, and hold ourselves and each other accountable," General Hoffman said.

As part of the campaign, AFMC bases will implement or reinstate face-to-face boards, reveille and retreat, and roll calls. Many bases have already begun putting the initiatives in place.

"In addition to renewing a military tradition by playing reveille, retreat and Taps each day, a monthly retreat ceremony is now conducted that includes personnel from the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center and our more than 100 mission partners," said Chief Master Sgt. V. Lee Thompson, command chief for the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, the 377th Air Base Wing and the 498th Nuclear Systems Wing at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M. "Feedback from our base people has been very positive and the warrior pride is evident day-to-day."

Elsewhere in the command, Chief Master Sgt. Dave Nordel, command chief for the Ogden Air Logistics Center and the 75th Air Base Wing at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, said, "We held face to face boards in conjunction with below-the-zone. The boards weren't scored, but they served as professional development. There were lots of nerves among the airmen, but they all felt better after having to go through the experience."

AFMC bases are also encouraged to get creative and add extra initiatives to the campaign.

"In addition to rolling out face to face boards, conducting retreat ceremonies and other initiatives, we have been conducting monthly Formation Runs," said Chief Master Sgt. Kevin Vegas, command chief for the 72nd Air Base Wing and Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. "Civilian employees are encouraged to -- and do! -- participate. These runs afford the wing commander an opportunity to address all of the wing's Airmen, present recognition and build morale."

The idea for the campaign came from the AFMC's spring Senior Leaders Conference in April of this year.

After a discussion among senior leaders about the need to get 'back to basics,' Chief Jaren developed a survey about restoring basic military functions and sent it to more than 200 people within AFMC, both military and civilian.

"Overall, the respondents overwhelmingly voted positively for the initiatives," Chief Jaren said. "Views from respondents ranged anywhere from a low 10 percent negative to an extremely low 4 percent negative. In fact, we received more than 80 pages of comments about improving our basic military culture."

Throughout the campaign, bases will share articles about their progress and command chiefs will share commentaries about why the initiative and elements of it are important.

The articles, commentaries, and more information related to the Hold the Line campaign will be available on AFMC's public website.