HomeNewsArticle Display

General shares ‘bucket list’ during town hall meeting

  • Published
  • By Brandice J. Armstrong
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., --  Noting that their profession is a lethal business, the leader of Air Force Materiel Command told military and civilian Airmen attending a town hall meeting March 13 to "be professional and do it right to maintain the confidence and trust of American citizens."

Gen. Donald Hoffman hosted the meeting as part of his two-day immersion visit to Tinker AFB. During the meeting, General Hoffman answered questions and discussed his preference for compartmentalizing goals into three "buckets," each of which he considers imperative to the mission and the safety of Airmen and American citizens.

Safely and professionally executing the mission comprises the general's first bucket. As a military organization, General Hoffman said it is imperative to execute as such, because citizens expect it.

"I've traveled to other parts of the world where professionalism is not practiced by military members or peace officers," he said. "Instead, citizens are bullied, harassed and even attacked. Not only is that behavior not tolerated in the United States, but we can accomplish more tasks if they are done in a safe manner."

The general praised safety initiatives at Tinker AFB and commended base personnel for their involvement in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's Voluntary Protection Program, which aims to reduce the number of work-related injuries and illnesses.

General Hoffman's second "bucket" includes protecting, conserving and consuming resources. He emphasized the need to protect resources and to use them responsibly.

"It's OK to use lights and heat, or to cool your building, but don't leave either utility on after going home for the night or weekend," General Hoffman said. "Treat every dollar, every dime, as if it were your own. because you're paying taxes as well."

The topic in General Hoffman's third "bucket" is motivation. He said trained personnel are the key to the Air Force's success, which is why retaining people with valuable skills is so important.

"If a person has worked somewhere for 15 years and decides to leave, it's going to take 15 years to replace them, not one day," General Hoffman said. "We want our talent to stay because we've invested in them."

In addition to his three "buckets," General Hoffman said diversity is another key to the Air Force's success. Using an analogy about building a wall, the general said a wall will not be solid if it is made from just one or two materials. However, a variety of materials, including sand, gravel, cement and water, will result in a strong wall. "Diversity is strength," General Hoffman said. "Embrace it."

General Hoffman closed the session by presenting a Distinguished Service Medal to Maj. Gen. P. David Gillett Jr. General Gillett, the Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center commander, earned the medal for his work at his previous assignment, Air Combat Command Headquarters, Langley AFB, Va., as director of Logistics.