Integrity is a Farce

Let me set the stage for you...

Farce: a light, humorous play in which the plot depends upon a skillfully exploited situation rather than upon the development of character.

Integrity:Integrity is a character trait. It is the willingness to do what is right even when no one is looking. It is the “moral compass”—the inner voice; the voice of self–control; the basis for the trust imperative in today’s military.

Unprofessional Relationship: Defined by AFI 36-2909 Unprofessional relationships are those interpersonal relationships that erode good order, discipline, respect for authority, unit cohesion and, ultimately, mission accomplishment. It is the responsibility of commanders and supervisors at all levels to ensure compliance with this instruction.

Reprisal: something bad done to someone in return for something bad he has done to one; an act of revenge

Since day one, all the AF preaches about is Integrity First, Service Before Self, Excellence in all we do. Its ingrained in us from the very moment we step off that bus and into the hands of the Air Force. But the system is broke. There is NO accountability...""We needed a change of leadership to bring a new perspective and especially to underscore the importance of accountability," Gates said. I mean they fly nukes across the country and all someone gets is a retirement check? Thats just one of a few incidents that has happened lately.

Here is another "Air Force personnel handling nuclear weapons consistently failed to follow rules." WTF? Handling Nukes and you failed to follow the rules?

I sure hope what the new SecAF Michael B. Donley says is true Winds of change are blowing.

But why is this statement second? "Ensure that our core values of Integrity First, Service before Self, and Excellence in All We Do underpin every action, by every Airman, at all times" Shouldn't that be first? NOOO not in todays AF, because Integrity ONLY applies when you want it too....There is no accountability in the AF.

I've mentioned earlier that I've been fired from my current position. Here is what happened to sum it all up. Our former Squadron Commander (CC) did not like me because I brought up to the chain of command (CoC), the appearance (because as I've been told by senior leaders, perception is reality) of an unprofessional relationship between him and a female reserve enlisted member. I thought I was doing what was right, by bringing it up the chain. It was our own chain to boot, internal to our own organization, his second in command. After that, as far as I was concerned, the incident was over. That was Oct 2006.

In the two years of his dictatorship that followed I received two reprimands, was read my miranda rights (in an act of bullying), had to move my desk to sit next to someone of higher rank so they could keep an "eye" on me, and been fired from my position. But its not reprisal according to the AF Inspector General Office....NO Accountability. Ask anyone in the squadron what they think and they will tell you, its about reprisal.

Here is the icing on the cake though. I hope you are sitting down...I was fired over a personally owned popcorn machine that our unit has in our bar. Our former CC "donated" a popcorn machine to our bar. A standard countertop sized machine like this.

On the side is operating instructions. My current job at the time was basically Maintenance of all our government owned equipment. Not writing checklist (thats another section). But I have some experience in writing checklist as I did that in a previous job. SO, the boss tells me one day in a staff meeting to make a checklist for this machine. I mention "Sir, there are operating instructions on the side of it", and he says "thats not good enough, it needs to be on white paper." There is no arguing with the man, because he runs a dictatorship. So in the checklist world, if you don't have a checklist procedure you use the next best thing....the manufacturers operating instructions.

I did exactly what I was told, photocopied the cellophane operating instructions from the factory, enlarged them and put them on white paper, and taped them next to the manufacturers operating instructions. He saw this on a Friday, mentioned to me to add two things (so I made a Pen and Ink Change) and left for the day. Apparently he called my government issued cell phone (which btw was broke) and left a message for me to come in and fix this checklist sometime over the weekend. He NEVER bothered to call my house to tell me this. So that Monday morning, while I am on leave, he calls my house at 0720 and tells me to report to work. I do, and am given a letter of counseling and fired from my position.

But this man of high morale character and integrity goes on a TDY (work trip) to Las Vegas, parties it up, buys everyone booze, gets one guy so drunk he falls down and needs 37 stitches (who btw replaced me), urinates in public, breaks beer bottles in public, throws up in public AND in a rental car and this, folks, is Air Force Senior Leadership....What happened to him after this? He was promoted to a higher position....

BT