Major Kern is probably a fine military history professor. However, after reading "Redefining Airmanship" I felt that I had wasted $29.95 + tax.
Although Major Kern tries to relate his theories about airmanship to general, military, and commercial aviation his attempt does not quite make it. As a retired military aviator with over 3,700 hours of operational flying in tactical jets, general aviation pilot since 1971, and current airline pilot/check airman I find this book holds a mirror up to Major Kern's heavy bomber crews more then to the rest of aviation. After discussing this book with many of my former military peers, Major Kern's only direct operational experience appears to be with USAF heavy bombers.
The preface makes one wonder when Lt.Col. Nance whips into a Lecture and then states, "If this is beginning to sound like a lecture on personal responsibility, good !".
Statements such as, "Only...divine intervention prevented a catastrophic occurrence in front of the Canadian audience" to one definition of "good stress" as "finding religious enlightenment" made me wonder about Major Kern.
In chapter 15 Major Kern addresses "The need for standards". He tells us: "In commercial aviation, advancement and promotion are tied primarily to seniority...But once a certain level of competence is reached, there is no incentive -beyond personal pride and professionalism- to strive for a higher level of expertise. Many are content to fly the schedule, pocket their paychecks, and go on about their lives". Major Kern then goes on to offer us his solution to this dilemma: "Even the best-intentioned individuals need motivation to improve. The aviation organization-be it government, commercial, military, or general aviation-can and should provide incentives designed to motivate individual airmanship improvement."
I submit that it is pride and professionalism which are the keys to an individuals motivation to become the best one can be. More layers of bureaucratic top down imposed regulations and programs are historically not the best motivators for individual self-actualization or achievement. In commercial aviation, before we can "pocket our paycheck and go on about our lives", we have upgrade training on our new aircraft, random line checks by our company, random line checks by the FAA, recurrent training yearly including CRM, a chat with the chief pilot if the situation warrants, random drug screening and random alcohol testing imposed externally. Our real incentive to perform is the reason for commercial aviation, the flying public. We take great pride in delivering our passengers to their destinations safely and on time. Our reward is their smile and thanks when we have pulled off our flight for our customers.
In my military squadrons it was, yes once again, pride and professionalism which drove us to improve our performance to be ready to imploy our air to air weapons if called upon by Real World operational Rules of Engagement.
Call it pride and professionalism, peer pressure, or desire to "pocket a paycheck" I purchased "Redefining Airmanship" but was disappointed with the Lecture and the less then operational depth which should have been contained in this publication.
Bill