WOFFs to sign up to new deal

By Andrew Stackpool

A warrant officer signs a compact, showing his commitment to the role.

Photo by CPL Simone Liebelt

As an Air Force Warrant Officer, I am committed to living this compact by displaying these leadership behaviours every day. I expect that those I lead will measure my ability against this framework. I sign this purely as a contract with myself to represent my commitment to leadership.

Air Force Warrant Officers:

Show integrity

Are good role models

Lead by example

Are mentors

Are approachable

Are consistent

Are compassionate

Are professional

The compact details behaviours under each of these headings.

ALL warrant officers will need this year to sign up to a document that shows they are committed to their leadership roles and upholding the values of the Air Force.

The document is the Warrant Officer Leadership Compact. Warrant officers signed off on the idea at their annual conference late last year.

Warrant Officer of the Air Force WOFF Peter Hall said this was the most important outcome from the conference and was an historic “first” for the conferences, which have been held since the 1990s.

WOFF Hall said the idea of the compact came about because all one starranking officers and above are required to complete one.

“It struck me as relevant that all warrant officers have one as well since they are the senior airmen and airwomen and have a unique role within the organisation,” he said.

“This compact will leave them no doubts as to what their functions and responsibilities are to Air Force and its personnel. I expect each of them to have one at their desk at all times.”

Developed and signed off by all attendees over a full day’s workshop, the document sets out:

• what WOFFs do as senior airmen and airwomen;
• how they are to do it;
• the standards of leadership behaviour they are expected to display as warrant officers in the Air Force; and
• why they are to do it.

“I am really happy with the outcome,” WOFF Hall said. “The warrant officers came up with the compact, its identified qualities and the necessary performance activities.

For the first time this provides them shared ownership, clear outcomes, clearly defined leadership values and a shared sense of purpose.”

The annual conference was held at RAAF Base Amberley where CAF Air Marshal Angus Houston presented the keynote address. 109 of Air Force’s 400 permanent and reserve warrant officers attended.

Over two days, the conference heard from a range of speakers on personnel management and related areas, including superannuation, Air Force communications and public affairs, coordination and acquisitions issues.

Warrant Officer Blu Hind, the F-111 deseal/reseal workers advocate, also spoke about the leadership issues that have arisen since the F-111 deseal/reseal board of inquiry.

WOFF Hall said he intended to build on this year’s conference by inviting his counterparts from Navy and Army.

“We need better interaction,” he said.

“We all deal with similar issues but in different ways and within the joint ADF framework we need to develop a more common perspective.”

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