Behind the desk
Leadership key ingredient to success

By Warrant Officer of the Air Force WOFF Ray Woolnough

WOFF-AF Ray Woolnough says ‘keep it simple’, pace yourselves and look after yourself, friends and family.

Photo by CPL Simone Liebelt

GREETINGS, Airmen and Airwomen of the Royal Australian Air Force. By using this media, it is my intention to keep you informed on what I have recently been up to and what expectations I have with regards to events and issues that need mentioning. It is my intention to have an entry in the Air Force News at least once a month.

I would like to take this opportunity to firstly welcome you all back to the ‘grindstone’.

If the general gist of the banter heard ‘around the traps’ is any indicator on the importance of taking leave, for example ‘My leave was far too short’, I honestly feel that those members must have had a great relaxing break.

That is what leave days are all about.

Therefore, I hope that the majority of you thoroughly enjoyed your well deserved leave along with family members and/or friends.

Those of you who did not take leave, for one reason of another, I hope you will take your leave and have a great break soon, or when you return to Oz. Our thoughts are always with those members who are either away on duty, or who had to remain on duty at their respective bases/units etc.

The operational tempo, as we know it, is not going to change in the near future. So with that sombre point all I request is that you pace yourselves, and not only look after yourselves but the needs of your family, friends and subordinates as well.

Secondly I would like to introduce myself and give you some insight into ‘who I am’ and what a couple of my expectations will be during my tenure as your Warrant Officer of the Air Force. Further expectations will be forthcoming in subsequent Air Force News entries.

For the past four years I was the Air Command Warrant Officer, and it was in that position I had cause to send out two memorandums in respect of ‘What is expected of a RAAF SNCO and WOFF’, and ‘Manners and Protocols’. These two documents are still floating around and most WODs have them on file.

My views have not changed, and in view of the reminders from the Chief of Air Force’s office, those points made in the two aforementioned memorandums will be continually policed.

Keeping things simple is the way to go, and in today’s Air Force good leadership is the key ingredient to a successful and enjoyable Air Force.

The message to recruits from the Chief of Air Force with regards to leadership is simple – ‘Leadership is a vital ingredient of what the Air Force is all about, and its not just leadership from me, from your commander or your senior NCOs. What I want is leadership at all levels and it can start with you – at your level’.

‘Leadership is what we are all about and the form of leadership that I want is a very open, caring form of leadership, which is balanced by the necessary level of decisiveness, firmness and assertiveness – a leadership style that empowers all of us in the Air Force’.

I will end there, but be assured that over the coming months/years I will have my say on other issues that I feel are important.

We are a vibrant Air Force, an Air Force that continually strives ‘to be the best we can be, with what we have, here and now’. Till next time please remember – having a good time will be mandatory.

 

.