Your comments are really valid, particularly the introductory quote to the
exerpt of your work titled "Redefining Airmanship"................
"Standards set by precedent are based on something less than average
performance, and for that reason, one should not submit to them." (Field
Marshall Erwin Rommel)
Additionally, your comments "Please be advised that the model also exists in
several public domain documents and I feel it is far too important not to
share".......however, (unfortunately) for the benefit of all concerned, you
"overlooked" to mention that the excerpt your work may be found at:
http://www.caar.db.erau.edu/crm/bookstore/Kern/intro.html
Additionally, for the benefit of all CRMers who aren't familiar with what
Tony's
referring to, try visiting:
http://www.caar.db.erau.edu/lists/crm-devel/Jul_97/0037.html
for Tony's discussion on "Redefining Airmanship".
Finally, for those of you who may be trying to find that "elusive" article
that may not be in the CRM Developers "archives", if you know the exact
title, try searching for it through:
...its a research-specific Search Engine, and produces some outstanding
results. And when you DO find it, let us fellow CRMers know about it too!!
Regards to all, Phil R.
-----Original Message-----
From: Lt Col Tony T. Kern, X-3230 <KernTT.DFH.USAFA_at_usafa.af.mil>
To: crm-devel_at_db.erau.edu <crm-devel_at_db.erau.edu>
Date: Tuesday, September 08, 1998 8:49 PM
Subject: re:Culture
>
>Vince and group
> I would like to echo--and caveat-- Vince's observations about
>differences in cultures and the pursuit of perfection. In the past 2 1/2
>years I have addressed and consulted with 12 large organizations on
>aircrew performance. Six military, five civilian/commercial and one
>"other" (US Forest Service). The distinctions Vince makes are clear and
>obvious to me, but I would like to add one more distinction. In every
>organization where clear and unambiguous definitions of excellence
>have been spelled out, the brutal process of self-improvment through
>honest and thorough debriefing is present. I have seen this in action
>outside of the military, and I have seen military organizations without it.
>Perhaps the effort it takes to codify excellence is indicative of the level
>of support that is required to enforce and motivate the practice of
>self-improvement. Perhaps not, but I thought it worth mentioning.
> On a similar note, I have been asked (by private e-mail) by
>several in the group for permission to copy and use the "Airmanship
>Model" (from my book Redefining Airmanship) for training. Please be
>advised that the model also exists in several public domain documents
>and I feel it is far too important not to share. Please feel free to use
it for
>training however you would like. For permission to use the textual
>information in the book, please contact the permissions editor at
>McGraw-Hill.
>
> Warm Regards
>
> Tony Kern
>
>----------------------[Reply - Original Message]----------------------
>
>Sent by:"V. Mancuso" <vince_mancuso_at_CompuServe.COM>
>
>Hello Folks,
>
>I fly for an airline that has traditionally hired around 95%
>military-trained pilots. I also fly in the Air Force Reserve as a T-38
>Instructor Pilot. One would think that the pilot culture and the manner
>in which pilots conduct themselves in these two flying organizations
>would
>be very similar. My experience, however, is that the manner in which
>pilots conduct themselves is vastly different in the two organizations. I
>believe I have identified two fundamental differences (and will likely
>identify more as the months roll on):
>
>1. The reverence the organization has for perfection
>2. The acceptable methods for dealing with deference to experience and
>position
>
>In military flying, perfection is a religion. Consequently individual and
>small group accountability is very high. Formal debriefs are an
>expected
>part of every mission. Within the context of these debriefs, all
>crew/flight members have the formal sanction to debrief anything or
>anyone.
> In commercial flying, the reverence for perfection and the acceptable
>methods for deference are largely determined by the individual captain.
>Individual and small group accountability varies significantly between
>crew
>pairings. The result is a wide variability in both items listed above.
>
>I would like to share with you an excerpt that my commander has
>prominently
>displayed under the glass on his desk:
>
>********
>"There is a subtle tendency to protect your ego in the debrief instead of
>focusing on lessons learned. If you're giving alibis during the debrief
>explaining why you didn't do things perfectly, chances are you're not
>getting everything out of the debrief that you could. It's human nature to
>rationalize substandard performance as the result of outside factors.
>Good
>fighter pilots have the discipline to honestly admit their mistakes to
>themselves (and others) whether or not a gradesheet comment is written.
> It
> pi**** them off when they get gunned on a mission. They spend time
>even
>after the debrief reviewing how they screwed up and how they're going to
>make certain that it never happens again. The ones who excel drain
>every
>bit of learning from every debrief. If you haven't got the determination
>to analyze your performance in precise detail, or the humility to admit
>errors at your present skill level, your progression to higher levels will
>be slower than it should be.
>
>There is also a tendency to focus on others mistakes during the debrief.
>Typical examples are blaming GCI, RAPCON, the rejoin platform's
>airspeed,
>or 2's wide base position. Even if your individual performance was only
>a
>small part of a debrief ask yourself: How could I have improved our
>execution."
>
>*******
>
>The fact that my commander has this prominently displayed and lives by
>it
>says more about the culture than any verbal picture I could paint.
>
>I would be interested in the perspective of others who have flown both
>military and civilian. I would also be interested in learning form our
>resident scholars on culture whether my experience matches existing
>theories on cultural influence on performance.
>
>Best Regards,
>
>Vince Mancuso
>
>
>
>
>
>
>===========================================================
>==========
>
>
>