The Air Force issued a new standardized guideline spelling out the Chief of Staff’s expectations of every unit commander, entitled Commander’s Responsibilities. “For the first time, the Air Force now has an instruction which sets the minimum standard for successful command,” said Air Force Inspector General Lt. Gen. Stephen Mueller, in a May 21 release. “A great byproduct of this instruction is a standardized template for evaluating and inspecting all Air Force commander’s along four common major graded areas,” explained Mueller. “It’s important for all of us to be on the same page, especially when it comes to standards and conduct,” added Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh. The six-page Air Force Instruction specifies that commanders are responsible for leadership, mission execution, resource management, and unit improvement. They also are expected to “display exemplary conduct … be above reproach, both morally and ethically, and exemplify Air Force core values,” according to the release.
A three-month continuing resolution that ended in December inflicted less pain on the Department of the Air Force than it had expected, as procurement and construction continue in the new year. The federal government operated under a stopgap spending measure that stretched from the beginning of the fiscal year on…