Pay it forward: Growing the next generation

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La., April 23, 2012 — I recently met with our dental junior enlisted tier for a mentoring session. We discussed junior enlisted responsibilities as noted in Air Force Instruction 36-2918, Enlisted Force Structure.

During this session, I recognized an all too often overlooked area: growing the next generation. As senior noncommissioned officers and NCOs, we are specifically charged with "deliberately developing our junior enlisted, NCOs and fellow senior NCOs into better followers, leaders and supervisors."

In order to do this, we must guide our subordinates to ensure they are prepared to accept increased levels of authority and responsibility. Looking back 21 years, I remember when I was a young Airman, right out of high school, having the feeling of "doom and gloom" because I didn't receive the mentoring, guidance or instruction that enabled me to handle increased responsibility. This still happens within our junior enlisted tier today!

Sometimes leaders get caught up in subordinates' wrongdoings and fail to praise them when they are doing right. Our Airmen hear too much negative enforcement and not enough positive reinforcement and mentoring.

As leaders, we must prepare those coming up in the ranks behind us because they are our replacements and future leaders. That means reflecting on all we have received or did not receive at their level, taking those lessons learned, both positive and negative, and sharing with this select group of future leaders. Throughout our journey, we were molded into leaders. It wasn't something we were born into; it was a skill set fostered by the mentorship and guidance of multiple NCOs, senior NCOs and leaders who crossed our paths.

Take a moment to help a young Airman who is struggling with physical fitness training, to provide instruction before an end-of-course exam or to break down technical orders. Apply these items to everyday life. Don't just assume they know or should know these skills because you told them twice already. We all learn at different levels; some are tactile learners, some auditory or visual learners, while others learn by a combination of each. Find the style that works best for the young Airman you are leading and use it. If they still don't get it right, show them again; just don't give up!

We all want to do our very best and expect the very best from our Airmen. Give them your very best when training, educating, mentoring, guiding and correcting. Perhaps you didn't have the best mentors during your career, but that doesn't mean you have to follow suit. If your experience was negative, rise above that and show our young Airmen the right way to do things.

Remember all you learned from your supervisors, commanders, first sergeants, subordinates and mentors, and pay it forward. Our leaders of tomorrow depend of the guidance of all of us leaders of today, so let's grow the next generation!