Developing Officership: It Starts at the Top

Officership is the basic foundation of the professional military officer. Senior military leaders have a responsibility and an obligation to develop and promote officership in order to produce our future leaders and to maintain the institutional values, traditions, and professionalism of the United States Air Force. Officership is not automatic; it must be taught and the teaching must start with our senior leaders. This responsibility cannot be taken lightly and must be continuous. Officers must see themselves first as military officers and secondly as specialists (e.g., pilot, engineer, comptroller, logistician). Furthermore, as our societal norms change, so will the people that enter the military. Changes in societal norms and values challenge the basic concept of officership and the military as a profession. Consequently, senior leaders must understand the basic fundamentals of officership and their important role in developing military leaders.