AF Call

I'll start out by saying most of you won't understand the significance of some of these things, but I'm going to tell you about it anyway.

Yesterday was an AF call, meaning all Airmen had to come meet so that my boss could give a speech. He started by encouraging them and reminding them why they are here and what a valuable role they play here. Then at the end he fielded questions and concurs and this is what he was told.

There is an overall feeling that the AF is hated. People feel like they are supposed to apologize to the Army for being AF. The tension between the services is thick. So, he encouraged them again, telling them all to "kill them with competence". I left there thinking, I haven't seen that animosity yet...

That evening I went head to head with an Army Col (one step down from a general) to defend an opinion on priority. He nearly had me cave, but I knew I was right and in a kind but confident way told him why I was right. I couldn't believe it but he flipped and suddenly within 10 minutes was on my side. Just then, a Marine Captain who was listening in asked me about the AF call, they were all very interested to know what the Airmen had told the boss. She called all the AF fat, insulted the uniform and in the next breath asked me, in front of 3 Majors and the Army Col, if I had heard about a negative feeling coming from the AF! I almost laughed, all I could say was, "From which side ma'am?"

Sometimes I wonder if they realize we are on the same team. There is a lot to overcome purely from the joint perspective, but I think placing my boss here was part of Gods strategic plan. We are going to kill the attitude with competence.