Leadership 101-It's Not About You

  • Published
  • By Chief Master Sgt. Michael Hood
  • 339th Recruiting Squadron

There I was... on a sunny Friday afternoon, April 29, 2005 standing on side stage inside Hangar 15 at Yokota Air Base Japan awaiting to be recognized with a few others as newly promoted Airmen.  The crowd of over 1,000 was electric with shouts, unit war cries and Japanese Taiko war drums playing as each of us in turn walked center stage.  Finally my name was called and I began the longest handshake in the history of handshakes. 

 

Command Chief Rodney Moore congratulated me and while shaking my hand, asked, "Sergeant Hood, where are you with completing your course-12 PME?"  I replied, "I'm working on it chief." (I had actually only enrolled 10-months prior), and as he smiled and continued shaking my hand, he explained in pointed detail how I'd better get it done in 30-days (it was 12-month course!)  He continued, "As a leader of Airmen, we expect YOU to set the highest standard.  YOU cannot effectively lead if you fail to educate yourself and continually learn how to lead and influence others.  YOU are a senior NCO, YOU are now a Master Sergeant...get that [stuff] done now!"

 

Next up was the 374th Airlift Wing commander, Col Mark Schissler.  As the commander smiled and shook my hand, he reiterated the words of the chief while smiling and without moving his mouth!  "Master Sergeant Hood, we're so proud of you. Now I know the chief had some good words for you and you understand what you need to do to complete your PME..."  He said more that I no longer recall as I was surprised the command chief and wing commander knew that I had sandbagged completing my Professional Military Education and were calling me out on it, center stage in front of the wing.

 

As I walked off stage, my co-workers congratulated me and said, "Mike, wow!  You were up there way longer than anyone else, they must have had a lot of great things to say?"  Well, this will be our secret...

 

I promptly followed their advice and it took me two months to complete my PME because I had listened to someone else who said it was a B.S. requirement and easy.  It wasn't.  Furthermore, if I had failed any of the six blocks, I would have had to wait an additional thirty days to retest and could have been dis-enrolled. 

 

The message was finally clear, leadership is not about me personally, but all about those I lead.  The art of leadership must continually grow, expand and cultivate new perspectives so as leaders we can better care and develop others.  Continuous education, networking and professional reading is vital. Those who chose to stop growing as leaders, stop being effective and relevant leaders.

 

Since then course-12 has evolved and to those contemplating whether or not to complete their PME, you should never view it as "filling a square", "being politically correct", "a waste of time" or "something to keep the boss off your back."  PME is none of that.  Professional Military Education is information, leadership perspective and tools designed to grow you as a military professional.  When you say "NO" to PME, you are saying to your peers, superiors, and even worse - our Airmen, that you chose not to partake in education and training that is designed to help you grow, lead and develop them!  This is not a good message to send, regardless of your plans to stay in the military or not. 

 

Step 1, find you a solid Senior Non-Commissioned Officer that you trust and admire, one who has a proven track record of success and integrity, and ask them to mentor you on what you need to be successful as a young leader. You should never take career advice from "barracks lawyers" and those who are disgruntled for the wrong reasons.

 

Step 2, don't procrastinate.  There will never be a good time to do it, so just get it done now.

 

Step 3, update your records – Single Unit Retrieval Format.  This will prevent unintended consequences such as being missed on a promotion board.

 

Step 4, get paid.  That's right, here's a fun fact for those who have completed your Community College of the Air Force degree, PME and 7 skill-level.  CCAF offers a Professional Manager Certificate that only requires six semester hours (2) free College Level Examination Program/Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support tests on fundamentals of leadership and management.  This certificate's value ranges from $2,500 to $6,000 in the civilian sector! 

 

Attached is a how-to guide and for those interested.  It gets better, once your CCAF Professional Manager Certification is updated on your SURF, it serves as an additional factor that sets you apart from your promotion eligible peers and will serve you well in civilian life.

 

Lead On!