This is aimed at AF officers but some of it might apply.
10 things every Lt should know
1. There are not 10 things in this list. Don't get tied down by arbitrary labels and slogans. We put numbers to things to help us understand and manage large programs but make sure you know the real intent.
2. Buy a new hat every year whether you need it or not.
3. The map is not the terrain. The army explicitly trains to this idea but USAF officers often seem surprised to find out reality doesn't always match the map or the tech order.
4. Trust and rely on your NCOs but manage their activities. A smart NCO who finds a creative new way to get in trouble or deviate from his commanders intent is generally a reflection of your leadership, not a negative indicator of the NCOs character.
5. Treat every job and task as if it is the most important job in the world no matter how simple or menial. If a snacko can't keep the fridge stocked, any job struggle he has in the future will be perceived as laziness or incompetence.
6. Buy into your organization's traditions 100%. As with #5, nobody will trust you in combat if you can't be troubled to pass the conformity check during roll call.
7. Although UTTERLY ESSENTIAL to operations, career support personnel will often view anything you do to improve your own situation as a failure on their part. They will create regulations and policies ensuring that you can't do anything yourself and to help reinforce the resulting empires they build, they will blame "the regs" their own organizations created if they ever fail to provide the support you need. An operator needs support the same way a wolf needs deer. There is a vital symbiotic relationship there but the deer will vote you out of a job if given a chance.
8. If you are not cheating you are not trying. Fighting fair is for losers. Do not confuse this as an excuse to violate academic integrity rules. You'll get kicked where it hurts if you cheat in the academic environment so you need to find another way to win in that arena.
9. Corollary to #7 and 8: do not feel bad if you find yourself enjoying your efforts to bypass services or support function regs and policies. Playing by the enemies rules in combat will get you killed so view any opportunity to find loopholes in stupid rules as a training exercise.
10. Pick your battles. Think very carefully about falling on your sword over something nobody else cares about. For every one General Doolittle there were a hundred abrasive and argumentative people who got cashiered before they made their point. This doesn't mean don't stand up for your principles, but you better be right and it better be an issue that actually matters.
11. Don't miss suspenses. In most cases a 95% solution on time is better than the 100% solution a week late.
12. The squadron is where you build tactical experience. The USAF has a name for tactical experts: captain. If you want to get promoted, get out of the squadron once you master the tactics of your weapon system.
13. There is never a good time to get your masters done, get married, have kids, or take 2 weeks leave to visit your dream vacation destination. Start TODAY or you will find yourself left behind wondering what happened.
14. Push to go to school in residence if you have any desire to be eligible for promotion or command. Do not trust anyone who says you don't need to go in residence; they might simply be afraid to tell you to your face that they don't think you are command material. 99.8% promote rates don't lie, and THEY most likely went in residence.
15. That Colonel who insists that the powerpoint formatting be consistent throughout the presentation is not some nitpicking psycho from the staff funny farm. He is teaching you that if your presentation method is distracting, your message will be lost no matter how important it is. Rule #2 is how the average 2Lt will apply this rule.
16. When given a choice, choose the assignment that you will like and in which you can employ your skills and passions, not the one that will "set you up." You'll be forgiven the sin of enjoying your job if you excel at it and make those around you more effective.
17. Show an interest in the activities of everyone involved in making your organization work. Get out of the office and go in person to see what people are doing. One visit to one backshop can pay dividends for years. Corollary - if you over-G the aircraft, bring a case of beer to those fixing the plane and ask them to explain to you what they have to do to get the aircraft flying again. The amount of goodwill generated by that one visit will be hugely out of proportion to the time spent and the cost of the beer.
18. Leadership by email is a good way to ensure your people don't pay attention to you. Go to their workplace and find out what they're doing before you tell them to do something or change what they're already doing.
19. A smile and nod is cheap down payment against the day you need to ask a favor. Don't be a jerk to the people who enable you to do your job.
20. You don't have to push others down in order to stand tall among your peers, but some of your peers will see this as an easy way to achieve recognition early in their careers. Those who do this will either be despised and not make it very far, or will become Generals. Develop mental countermeasures against both outcomes or you will become bitter and cynical.
