1. Leadership Accountability

2. Overview Definition of Accountability Unlimited Liability
Air Force Core Values and Accountability

3. Definition of Accountability
Random House College Dictionary
“subject to the obligation to report,
explain, or justify.”
“responsible; answerable”

4. Definition of Accountability
USAF Core Values
“No person of integrity tries to shift the blame to others or takes credit for the work of others; ‘the buck stops here’ says it best.”

5. Definition of Accountability
“Holding people responsible for their actions appropriate to their authority and within the realm of their responsibility.”
Lt Gen Joseph J. Redden
Former Commander, Air University

6. Accountability vs. Liability
Accountability - (in a military environment) requires individuals to be answerable or accountable for the people and resources entrusted to them.

7. Former USAF Chief of Staff,
“In the Air Force we expect all members to live by the highest standards implicit in our core values … We should not and will not accept less. However, when those standards are not met -- that is, there is misconduct or behavior that does not meet our standards -- then it is our responsibility and our duty to hold people involved accountable for their actions and respond appropriately.”
Former USAF Chief of Staff,
General Ronald Fogleman (Ret)

8. Unlimited Liability
Liability - Concept based upon an individual’s action or inaction. It subjects one to penalty for failure to conform or meet standards and usually carries individual consequences.

9. Unlimited Liability
“The obligation of service and commitment inherent in the military ethic imposes burdens not customary in the larger society where obligations are normally contractual in nature and limited in degree of personal sacrifice expected. For the soldier, the obligation is complete: to death if necessary.”
General E.C. Meyer,
U.S. Army (Ret.)

10. Oath of Office
I, , having been appointed a Second Lieutenant, United States Air Force, do solemnly swear (or affirm)… that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter, SO HELP ME GOD.

11. Age (Rebirth) of Accountability
Blackhawk Shootdown - Northern Iraq 14 April ‘94
“ We cannot tolerate actions which appear to condemn inappropriate conduct one moment, condone it the next, or even worse, reward it.”
General Ronald Fogleman (USAF Ret)

12. Accountability
Fairchild B-52 Accident - Spokane, Washington -- June ’94
T-43 Crash - Dubrovnik, Croatia -- April ’96
Khobar Towers - Dhahran, Saudi Arabia -- June ‘96

13. Accountability
1LT Kelly Flinn -‘97
USAFA – ’02, ‘03

14. “This is not a one-mistake Air Force
“This is not a one-mistake Air Force. We fully realize that our people are going to make honest mistakes as they attempt to perform their duties. That’s an understandable part of the process of gaining experience.” General Ronald Fogleman, USAF Ret

15. “This is not a new issue.”
Historical Examples
“This is not a new issue.”
My Lai, Vietnam - Spring ‘68
Lavelle Incident - Vietnam, ‘71-’72

16. Other Examples USMC Italian Gondola Incident USN
Naval Academy Cheating Scandal
Tailhook
USA
Aberdeen / Fort Leonard Wood
Sexual misconduct cases

17. Core Values & Accountability
Integrity--doing what’s right
Don’t shift blame to others or take credit for work done by others
Encourage Openness--Nothing to Hide
Self-Respect--don’t do anything to bring discredit upon yourself or the Air Force

18. Core Values & Accountability
Service Before Self--sacrificing your own desires
Follow the Rules--rules are there for a reason
Respect for Others--put the troops first
Faith in the System--losing faith in the system places self before service

19. Core Values & Accountability
Excellence in All We Do--passion for being the best
Commitment to maximizing the team effort
Never letting the team down
Completing required training and duties
Staying physically and mentally fit

20. Questions to be answered…
Who’s accountable ?
What are the impediments to accountability?
How do I avoid problems?

21. Who’s accountable?
YOU

22. Impediments to Accountability
Misplaced Loyalty
The Constitution
Institution versus the Individual
Fear of Making Mistakes
The One Mistake Air Force
Mistakes versus Crimes

23. Trouble Spots for New Officers
Fraternization
Pornography
DUI
Misappropriation of Funds
False Official Statements
Misuse of Government Resources

24. How to Avoid Problems Never compromise your integrity
Always do what’s right
Don’t be afraid to say, “I can’t do that.”
Let your principles be your guide
Integrity, Excellence, Service

25. Summary Definition of Accountability Unlimited Liability
Air Force Core Values and Accountability