Offutt Diversity Team hosts Airmen panel

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Rachel Hammes
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  The Offutt Diversity Team held a Voice of the Future Lunch and Learn at the Patriot Club here Jan. 27, 2016.

The event gave senior NCOs and company grade officers the opportunity to ask junior enlisted Airmen questions about new innovations, motivating Airmen and issues facing new service members.

"I can't think of another time where I had a senior NCO ask me as many questions as I had today," said Senior Airman Limairy Baskin, a budget analyst with the 55th Comptroller Squadron who sat on the panel. "It's nice to know they share our perspective at times, and that they are trying to understand the younger generation. Some people may have opinions and think, 'Oh, it only matters to senior NCOs,' or 'It only matters to Airmen.' It's important to know that it matters to the Air Force as a whole, not just based on rank structure."

Panel participants also included Airman 1st Class Kyle Gee, with the 55th Comptroller Squadron, Senior Airman Dustyn White, with the 55th Aerospace Medical Squadron, Airman 1st Class Asia Garrett, with the 1st Airborne Command and Control Squadron and Airman 1st Class Andrew Moore, with the 55th Security Forces Squadron.

The discussion touched on questions of motivating new Airmen during an era in which social media and handheld devices may hold more than their fair share of attention, as well as whether or not younger service members felt they were involved with a one mistake Air Force.

"This Air Force today is a different place than it was 20 years ago," said Chief Master Sgt. Michael Morris, command chief of the 55th Wing, emphasizing the difference between a one mistake Air Force and a one crime Air Force. The Air Force can handle mistakes and allow Airmen to grow from them, he said. But crimes, like drunk driving, are unacceptable.

Morris said the event was educational for both Airmen and the senior leaders in attendance.

"I want to personally thank the Airmen on the panel for providing a unique opportunity for Team Offutt leaders to get their perspectives on a range of topics that included generational communication, discipline, sexual assault prevention and training and leader/follower relationships," Morris said. "I left with several takeaways for my own leader toolkit and definitely grew a little from the experience."