This study used a variety of data sources and interviews with squadron, group, and wing commanders to develop recommendations for how the Air Force can address commander responsibilities, improve commander preparation, and refine resource monitoring.

The privilege of commanding an Air Force squadron, despite its heavy responsibilities and unrelenting challenges, represents for many Air Force officers the high point of their careers. It is service as a squadron commander that accords true command authority for the first time. The authority, used consistently and wisely, provides a foundation for command. As with the officer's commission itself, command authority is granted to those who have earned it, both by performance and a revealed capacity for the demands of total responsibility. But once granted, it much be revalidated every day. So as one assumes squadron command, bringing years of experience and proven record to join with this new authority, one might still need a little practical help to success with the tasks of command. This book offers such help. “Commanding an Air Force Squadron” brings unique and welcome material to a subject other books have addressed. It is rich in practical, useful, down-to-earth advice from officers who have recently experienced squadron command. The author does not quote regulations, parrot doctrine, or paraphrase the abstractions that lace the pages of so many books about leadership. Nor does he puff throughout the manuscript about how he did it. Rather, he presents a digest of practical wisdom based on real-world experience drawn from the reflection of many former commanders from any different types of units. He addresses all Air Force squadron commanders, rated and nonrated, in all sorts of missions worldwide. Please also see a follow up to this book entitled “Commanding an Air Force Squadron in the Twenty-First Century (2003)” by Jeffry F. Smith, Lieutenant Colonel, USAF.

The opportunity to command is a tremendous honor and responsibility and unquestionably will be one of the most significant roles of your Air Force career. The very nature of command is unique to the military; there is no civilian equivalent for this level of trust, authority, and responsibility. The essence of command is leadership, and your example will set the standard for your entire organization. For this reason, command is reserved for those individuals exhibiting only the highest levels of integrity, selflessness, and excellence. Leadership is not accomplished from behind the desk or by way of E-mail; rather, effective leadership requires you to lead from out front. Since the responsibilities of such leadership may appear daunting to first-time commanders, our Air Force places significant emphasis on precommand training to ensure your readiness for these new responsibilities. Immerse yourself in the available training to ensure you fully understand the rules of engagement. There is much to learn from the insights, experiences, and recommendations of previous commanders. Lt Col Jeff Smith's Commanding an Air Force Squadron in the Twenty-First Century provides some excellent perspectives from current and graduated commanders to help set your course and prepare you for the best job in the Air Force. Congratulations on your command and Godspeed!

"Then-colonel David L. Goldfein discusses several themes central to a successful command tour. His ideas and questions will spark your imagination as you begin preparing for the task ahead of you--squadron commander. He shares stories from other squadron commanders that include both success and failure because, as Goldfein states, "it is from studying our failures that we learn, grow, and improve as officers and leaders." Maj Gen Charles D. Link, USAF, retired, states that "this book is a must-read, not only for those selected to command a squadron but for all our young officers." General Goldfein is the current chief of staff of the Air Force."--

Squadron command is often described as the best job in the Air Force. It is also one of the most demanding. Commanders are entrusted with incredible power-in terms of legal authority and personal influence-and it is critical you honor that trust by commanding effectively with balance, purpose, and dedication. As the commander, it is your responsibility to set the tone, establish priorities, and take the lead. As you meet your daily challenges, remember that ultimately command is not about you or how skilled you are in your Air Force specialty. Command is about accomplishing the mission and taking care of your Airmen. This guide will help you on your way. There is no "all-encompassing" checklist or "how-to guide" for command-no manual could hope to be so comprehensive. How you lead your squadron depends on your experience, ideas, goals, values, and willingness to learn. Your past performance has demonstrated that you are up to the task-if not, you would not have been selected for command. Even so, you will not know everything before you start, and the job will always be a learning endeavor. You can, however, take advice and learn from other commanders' experiences to make you a better, more effective leader. That is the intent of this publication-to advance the practice of command. This book, in conjunction with the Commanders Connection, the professional forum for squadron commanders, does just that. The following articles and tips are not regulations you must follow, nor should they be your sole source of information. They are only guides based on the experiences and lessons learned from a diverse group of Air Force leaders. Used properly and supplemented with other sources, these guides help prepare you to effectively meet the needs of the mission, while taking care of your people. We hope you find the information here useful. Thoughtfully applied, it will make you a more effective commander. Obviously there are many programs, experiences, and issues we could not capture in one document. To remedy this problem, we encourage you to join the Commanders Connection (https://acsc.sqcc .maxwell.af.mil), where you will find an up-to-date electronic version of this book and a forum to ask questions, share your knowledge, and receive advice from current and former squadron-level leaders. We greatly appreciate the support of the following Air University organizations located at Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Air Command and Staff College (ACSC), Ira C. Eaker College for Professional Development, Commanders' Professional Development School, and Air University Press for their assistance in making this revised publication a reality. Without their support this project would not have been possible. Good luck in your command!

In Sharing Success - Owning Failure, Colonel Goldfein discusses several themes central to a successful command tour. He expresses ideas and puts forth questions to spark your imagination as you begin preparing for the task ahead of you-squadron commander. He shares stories from other squadron commanders that include both success and failure. Because, as Colonel Goldfein states, "it is from studying our failures that we learn, grow, and improve as officers and leaders." In the Foreword, Maj Gen Charles D. Link, USAF, Retired, says "this book is a must-read, not only for those selected to command a squadron but for all our young officers." Command is the ultimate service. It is a time when we have the singular responsibility to create and lead strong Air Force units. A time when our passion for our Air Force and our vision for its future must be overwhelmingly clear. Early in the "Developing Aerospace Leaders" initiative, we began to focus on the way in which the institution teaches leadership and prepares airmen for command. What we found was a wide range of practices and a wide range of expectations-a complicating factor in today's Expeditionary Aerospace Force. We realize that preparing our officers to command effective, mission-oriented units must be a deliberate process. It must develop our unique airman perspective, creating commanders who are able to communicate the vision, have credibility in the mission area, and can lead our people with inspiration and heart. The foundation of our institution's effectiveness has always been its leaders. Colonel Goldfein's work provides valuable lessons learned and serves as a worthwhile tool to optimize your effectiveness as a squadron commander. This book is a must-read, not only for those selected to command a squadron but for all our young officers, helping them understand what the requirements of squadron command will be. Remember, command is a unique privilege-a demanding and crucial position in our Air Force. Contents * Foreword * PREFACE * ABSTRACT * 1 EXPECTATIONS OF COMMAND * What Does the Boss Expect? * What Do the Troops Expect? * What Do You Expect? * Notes * 2 VISION AND ENVIRONMENT * Developing and Communicating Your Vision * Building the Environment * Notes * 3 WALKING THE WALK * Notes * 4 HANDLING JUSTICE * 5 GREAT IDEAS * Take Responsibility for Fun * Sponsor Program * Celebrate Heroes-Not Machines * Mentoring Program * Notes * CONCLUSION * BIBLIOGRAPHY

"Jeffry Smith updates the earlier release of Col Timothy T. Timmon's Commanding an Air Force Squadron (1993). In this book, which includes a foreword by Gen John P. Jumper and an introduction by Colonel Timmons, USAF, retired, Colonel Smith relies on the vast "insights, experiences, and recommendations" of former and current commanders to identify the attributes of a successful commander at multiple levels. He identifies some issues commanders face regardless of the level of command, including counseling personnel, dorm inspections, commanders' calls, money management, and the roles of spouses and families. According to Colonel Smith, the conduct of individuals in times of crises is the truest barometer of a good commander."--Publisher website.