Posted on Nov 21, 2014
SFC Operations Sergeant
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Screen shot 2014 11 21 at 5.59.39 pm
Thoughts on this AF COL?

https://www.facebook.com/MalmstromAirForceBase/photos/a [login to see] 52753.75 [login to see] 05137281/ [login to see] 54462/?type=1

As a single dad of 2, having a leader who 'understands' and sets realistic expectations is nice, but what would others think?
Posted in these groups: C556492 Child Care
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Responses: 18
Col Squadron Commander
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Edited 10 y ago
Look at it for what it is...a commander who is helping one of her own. Don't judge. I would rather have a commander that truly cares for their subordinates and shows it via actions rather than just giving lip service. Furthermore, she is multitasking. And who cares about the furniture. I have seen pretty decked out commanders offices in every branch.
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MSgt Electrical Power Production
MSgt (Join to see)
10 y
Right on sir!
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CPT All Source Intelligence
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Edited 10 y ago
As my unit was preparing to deploy in just days, one of my NCOs was really the BN anchor, not just my section. I carried his 4 month old daughter Zoey on my hip everywhere I went because he needed to be lifting tough boxes and the like, and his wife was running around with legal papers, etc. They had a plan: her mother lived about an hour away. I traded having him for the 2 hours of commuting time, vs. the inconvenience of helping out with the kid.

I think the pivotal issue is whether or not the care plans seem to always fall through and the child is basically an excuse, or if it is a one time event that happened because of a mix of odd circumstances. Every parent experiences that "perfect storm" event where the spouse is out of town, the sitter has the flu, the neighbor's kids got sent home with lice, and you have a work emergency. Flexing around that is what compassionate leadership and taking care of Military Families is all about.

On the other hand, if your commander *is* your child care plan, that's a huge red flag. This is not the impression I got from the photo and article. But I did get the impression from the photo that the AF has too large of a furniture budget. I sit staring at cloth-covered plastic/aluminum flim-flam all day.
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SFC Operations Sergeant
SFC (Join to see)
10 y
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Excellent point ma'am. I concur about their furniture budget. Reminds me of this picture on Ranger Up's FB page.

As for the the FCP, I have seen far too often fellow Soldiers utilizing their children as an excuse.
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CPT All Source Intelligence
CPT (Join to see)
10 y
We could start a charity for the Air Force to give to the other services.
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MSgt Vehicle Operations Superintendent
MSgt (Join to see)
10 y
This is the installation commander's office... I'm sure the furniture on the installation commander's office on an Army post is also nice!
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CPT All Source Intelligence
CPT (Join to see)
10 y
MSgt (Join to see), my remark was mostly to lighten the tone, and things are getting better, but I have been on numerous Army posts and even down range, they are significantly worse than AF. On joint bases, the point where you cross over to the Army side is the point where if you were driving around downtown, you'd have the urge to roll up your windows and lock your doors. I know that it is numbers: it's easier to have nice stuff for fewer people. Appreciate that we are not picketing for uniform treatment and accept the occasional ribbing from your poorer cousins.
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1SG Steven Stankovich
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Edited 10 y ago
We can all "Monday Morning Quarterback" until the sun shines over 1st Platoon's OP, but that doesn't change the image that this picture portraits. To me, and this is just my opinion, this is a Commander who would "walk the walk" with regards to mission accomplishment and taking care of Soldiers. If she demonstrates a balance in her own foxhole, that resonates throughout her unit.

I've had my kids at my desk when I was a 1SG due to conflicting requirements. Drive on ma'am...
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SFC Mark Merino
SFC Mark Merino
10 y
Great response. Is she supposed to stand at attention with her finger on a button ready to launch nukes at the communist menace? I see a human being acting human. Now, if she made money on the side running a daycare in her office during duty hours......
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MSgt Electrical Power Production
MSgt (Join to see)
10 y
1SG Steven Stankovich Outstanding comment thumbs up!
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