Reaper Rules to Live By

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Craig Wills
  • 493rd Fighter Squadron
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  In most squadrons, the in-processing checklist calls for at least one meeting between the new guy and the old guy , the commander.

Most commanders I know look forward to this opportunity to meet the incoming Airman and share a little bit of philosophy. In the 493d Fighter Squadron, the commander's speech usually revolves around 3 simple rules.

I share them with you today for two main reasons. First, I doubt you're interested in reading a 112 page thesis about airpower (tragic, but true). Second, if you follow these rules, I guarantee you a successful career. If you'd rather sit on the couch and watch Oprah, now is the time to leave.

Rule #1: Do Your Job
The Air Force expects you to master your career field, know the Air Force Instructions, and take care of the mission - that's the easy part. In today's world, we really are doing more with less. If we're going to succeed, we can't tolerate people who say "that's not my job.

" Your job description is Airman! Get your work done, and then find something else to do. In the air-to-air business, we say "Kill your bandit plus the next highest threat." In other words, do everything you're responsible for, and then help somebody else. Solve a problem that your boss doesn't know about yet, find a way to improve the process, or mentor the unfortunate soul who tells you "that's not my job." Anyone can identify problems, but we need Airmen who can identify and implement solutions.

Rule #2: Work Hard
The Air Force pays you a good salary, helps put clothes on your back, and puts a roof over your head. Don't fall into the trap of thinking "you deserve" what you're getting. You deserve life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness - and you used that liberty to join the Air Force.

When you joined, you signed a contract with Big Blue. In return for lots of neat benefits and a snazzy new PT uniform, you volunteered to give of yourself to help protect others' rights and liberties. You need to live up to your end by earning your paycheck. If your duty hours are 7:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. with a one hour lunch, one hour gym push, plus some on-line shopping, you're probably not pulling your weight. If your office rolls up the doormat at 4:30 p.m. during night-flying season, your organization may be missing the mark. If your supervisors have to hound you incessantly to be on time, to meet standards, or to do your work, you are letting the whole team down.

Rule #3: Be a Good Wingman
I know most of you are tired of being nagged about the wingman concept, but trust me it's a good thing. There are three key components to being a good wingman. First, being a good wingman means putting the team first. Face it folks, it's all about the team. If your supervisor can't explain to you how your job links directly to killing terrorists, call me, and I'll help. Everything at Lakenheath - from the coffee shop to the post office, is here to help put fire and steel on the enemy. None of us is more important than the mission or the team.

Being a good wingman also means going the extra mile to take care of your teammates. Unfortunately, in the Air Force we still have folks driving under the influence, suffering sexual assault, and generally getting hurt (or worse, hurting other people) in part because their wingmen are letting them down. This is completely unacceptable. Our lives depend on each other whether we're here, or downrange. If you don't believe me, ask anyone who's been mortared or ambushed or spent 6 months on convoy duty in Iraq - those folks tend to take the wingman role pretty seriously, and so should we.

The final - and most important - ingredient to being a good wingman is called personal responsibility, and frankly we don't spend enough time talking about this. Don't put your wingman in a square corner by drinking yourself unconscious, or wandering away from the crowd, or by lying about being "good to drive." If you're dumb enough, no wingman in the world can save you. For Ladies and Gentlemen alike - be careful who you hang out with, don't put yourself in an out-of-control situation, and "no" means "no."

Bottom line folks - there's a war on. We depend on each other, and we don't have time to deal with buffoonery caused by personal irresponsibility. It's time to get serious about being a good wingman. In the flying world, we call anything that hampers mission success a "LIMFAC" (limiting factor). In short, if you want to be a good wingman, don't be a LIMFAC!

In closing, the United States Air Force is the most powerful combat force that has ever existed on this earth. We have a noble calling - to provide Air Superiority for America - and we have important work to do. Our Airmen are, and will always be, the key to accomplishing our mission. I'm proud to be on your team, and I hope that the rules I've described here are of some use to you.