Air Marshal Errol McCormack, AO Chief of Air Force (CAF)

I have been Chief of Air Force for almost three years now and as my tenure in this position nears its end, I am keen to let you know of some activities that have been undertaken within the Air Force Senior Leadership Team over the last 12-14 months. The Senior Leadership Team comprises all Air Force one star officers and above and APS equivalents who are in the Air Force program.

The need to review the attitudes and values of the Air Force, was first recognised through your responses to the RAAF Cultural Assessment Project in November 1998. In all, 11,959 Air Force personnel participated. That survey clearly identified that, across the Air Force, there was a consistent view on what the Air Force is like - both the good and the bad.

However, there was less agreement as to how it should be in the future. Put simply, the newer members of our organisation have different expectations than those that have been in it for some time. Clearly, our Air Force must be able to accommodate both sets of expectations.

As the values of an organisation drive the way that it does its business, this indicated to me and the senior leadership that we needed to review our organisational values, and through them the culture of the Air Force. Through its values and culture the Air Force must be regarded as a place that people want to belong to.

During my visits to your bases and units, many of you have expressed the opinion that, at times, it seemed that the senior leadership of the Air Force was not listening to its people. Furthermore, I was concerned that the senior leadership may not have been working as cohesively as it could have.

You have heard me, no doubt, speak of my belief that the future of the Air Force requires passion and trust. Passion for what we do and trust in each other, at all levels of the organisation. This includes the trust between you and the Senior Leadership Team of the RAAF.

During 2000, I asked several members of the Air Force Senior Leadership to go out and establish Values Teams at a number of locations throughout the Air Force. These teams comprise representatives from all levels, both Service and civilian. I asked these teams to consider three questions.

Firstly, I asked them what kind of Air Force do we have today? Secondly, I asked them what the Air Force of the future would need to 'feel' like to meet the needs of its people and to encourage those outside it to want to belong? Thirdly, I asked them what would be necessary to close the gap between the Air Force today and how we would like it to be?

The outcomes of these discussions were then reported to all members of the Senior Leadership Team at one of its regular meetings. These outcomes, I am pleased to add, were the subject of much deliberation and ultimately, the Senior Leadership Team agreed a values statement (guided by your representatives' input) for the Air Force today and into the future. I know that you don't want another list of values to put on the wall, so let me describe them to you this way. We want an Air Force in which our people:

• are combat focussed and operationally ready;
  
• display honest commitment to RAAF values;
  
• strive for excellence as both a leader and as a follower;
  
• are fair to and respect the rights of others;
  
• encourage diversity in all its forms;
  
• balance work and personal commitments;
  
• work together as a team;
  
• communicate in an open and honest manner;
  
• are professional and innovative;
  
• are recognised for loyalty, integrity and determination; and
  
• serve with pride and dedication.
  

Having established the way the Air Force needs to 'feel' to meet the needs of the future, the Senior Leadership Team then discussed the behaviours that they would need to exhibit to foster such an organisation.

After much discussion and consideration, and through the validation of the Values Teams, the Senior Leadership Team established the Senior Leadership Team Behavioural Compact. This Compact identifies the way that the senior leaders of the Air Force must act if they are committed to creating a new climate within the Air Force.

In time, this compact will be measured on a 360-degree basis which means that some of you may be asked to assess the performance of one of your leaders in relation to this Behavioural Compact. Yes, this is a new approach for us all and many may not feel comfortable about it at first, least of all some of the members of the Senior Leadership Team. But remember, this is the way you see the future Air Force operating. You must feel, and be part of that future.

Below is the cover sheet of the Senior Leadership Team Behavioural Compact, which encapsulates the key commitments. If you wish to review the commitments in more detail, the Behavioural Compact for the Senior Leadership Team is available on the Air Force People Capability web site, at http://defweb2.cbr.defence.gov.au/afpc I urge you to take the time to review these commitments.

Senior Leadership Team Behavioural Compact

You will notice that I have used the word commitment several times. That is what this Compact represents - a commitment to you from the Senior Leadership Team and myself to foster the development of the future Air Force.

Like you, I am proud to belong to the RAAF. My passion is to see it continuing to serve Australia into the future as an organisation that people want to belong to. To do this we must draw on what we do well now and change what we don't do so well. The Values Teams contribution cannot be overstated and they will continue to influence the shaping of the Air Force. It is my hope that more teams will be created to give many more of you the opportunity to participate in this process.

I am sure you will hear more about the work of the Values Teams in future and I expect that you will see some of the results of their deliberations over the coming year. Finally, I would like to relay a sentiment that came from your representatives on one of the Values Teams; 'Be proud of the job you do and the organisation you work for'. You have all earnt that right.

E.J. McCormack
Air Marshal
Chief of Air Force