Groom Your Replacement

Today is a milestone for me…this is my 100th post written. I thought I would share my very first post again…and what really got me going in writing. This was an article I wrote for the base paper…something we had the opportunity to do as squadron commanders…so I jumped…and below is what I came up with, written in 2018 originally…I hope you enjoy!

I’m a firm believer that things happen for a reason.  This month is my opportunity to provide the Commander’s Commentary and it also happens to be the same month I joined the Air Force 20 years ago.  What does that mean?  I’m closer to the end of my career than I am to the beginning and when the day comes for me to retire, someone will replace me, as is the case with anyone that retires.

I first heard the phrase “you need to groom your replacement” in Airman Leadership School and have heard it numerous times throughout other PME courses, feedbacks, and mentorship discussions…but what does it really mean?  I’ll have to admit, up to a few months ago, I’ve always took a more literal approach and spent my efforts training and mentoring the next person in line to replace me in the position I was currently filling.

As I sit here as a commander, I thought about who groomed me for this job and when it started.  Nobody waited until I was a Captain and then said “now is the time to start getting him ready”.  In fact, nobody waited until I was commissioned before they started grooming me.  I think back to when I was a SrA and my new Flight Chief wouldn’t sign the new tool box inventories without going out and looking at the tool box himself.  He taught me that when you sign a piece of paper, make sure the content is accurate, your signature should mean something every time you put it on a piece of paper.  That was 18 years ago and I still think about that before I sign any document.  You see, you never know which small lesson you teach someone today will be passed on the rest of their career…once you have long since retired and moved on.

Regardless of your rank or your position you have the opportunity to groom the Airmen that are going to replace you one day.  It starts by getting to know your Airmen, finding out about their lives, goals, and families…then share your story.  You might just be motivating the next CMSgt of the Air Force to stay in the Air Force.  Next, it’s easy to recognize the individuals that are always stepping up and going above and beyond, but don’t forget that behind every “top 3” there is a list of folks right behind them that are ready to step up too, they are just waiting for the right opportunity to shine…give it to them!  Finally, if you do it right, the lessons you teach will be re-taught throughout many generations…so you have the ability to have an effect for folks that haven’t even been born yet.

I don’t know who is going to replace me one day, I know that through a formal process, in 2 years another maintenance officer will be hired to replace me…but who is going to be the commander in 10 or 20 years?  As I stand in front of the squadron every month during our Maverick’s Call I see 300+ potentials and it is my job to make sure they will be ready to replace me one day.  I challenge each of you reading this today to groom all of the Airmen that will be replacing you.