Leadership perspective: 'Dig a little deeper' Published July 17, 2008 By Thomas "Gene" Gallogly Base Civil Engineer TINKER AIR FORCE BASE -- As the Air Force undergoes a dramatic leadership change, we should all do a little soul searching. From our most senior leaders to the newest recruit, the events of the last several months should give us cause to reflect on our contributions to the team. Gen. Carlson, commander of Air Force Materiel Command has asked for our personal involvement and commitment to fix the shortfalls identified in the Air Force. He spoke of discipline, adherence to standards, and strict attention to detail. Did his message resonate with you? Are you fully committed to our mission and the sacrifices that commitment entails? Do you fully understand your role and what your teammates require of you? Have you personally lived up to those expectations, or do you do just enough to get by? The Air Force is the most revered fighting force in the world for a reason. We organize, equip and train our forces with the skills and competencies to deliver air, space and cyberspace superiority in support of our Nation's security. We have the most advanced weapon systems in the world, and our maintenance is second to none so that they continue to effectively serve the warfighter. We systematically develop our leaders; allowing them to grow through education, training and experience toward greater responsibility. We also develop astute followers. They obey rules and procedures, conform to exacting standards, and serve with honor. We expect strict discipline among the team, and we demand much of ourselves collectively and individually. Despite our preparation and training, we still sometimes fall short of expectations. Our systems are designed to catch and overcome those failures, but they only work if we don't let our guard down. Times like these remind me of the phrase: good enough for government work. Whenever I hear that, I think to myself, "Most people only dream of being good enough for my Air Force." I am an American Airman. I have answered my Nation's call... I will never falter, and I will not fail. My response to recent events will be to dig a little deeper. We all have to - it's our Air Force, and the price of failure is too high.