CommissionED: The Air Force Officer Podcast - Colin Slade & Reed Gann

Latest Episodes:

046 - Reasons to stop being an Air Force officer Jul 29, 2020

Show notes

The reasons for leaving the Air Force are as individual as the reasons for joining. For this reason, in this episode Reed shares his reasons for when he will leave the Air Force sometime in the distant future and Colin explains his reasons for separating twice.
03:38 - Reed's reasons; can no longer achieve your goal
10:06 - Priorities are irreversibly forced out of order
16:31 - You can no longer give everything
21:02 - Your partner asks you to stop
30:18 - Colin's reasons for separating the first time
AFIT GEM: https://youtu.be/6DrFKu9rRSg and https://www.afit.edu/env/programs.cfm?p=36&a=pd
Olmsted Foundation: http://www.olmstedfoundation.org
40:38 - Reasons for separating again
Corporate Captains Podcast: https://www.facebook.com/corporatecaptains/ and https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/corporate-captains-podcast/id1458895325
51:01 - Transitioning during COVID
Email your questions and comments to airforceofficerpodcast@gmail.com. Join the discussion about the podcast, the Air Force, officership, and the Profession of Arms at https://www.facebook.com/groups/airforceofficerpodcast/.

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Share your officer stories of all flavors using #officerAF.

045 - How and when to stop being an Air Force officer Jul 22, 2020

Show notes

The time will come for every Air Force officer to leave the service. Like any good OPLAN, it's wise to have an exit strategy. Regardless of where you are in your career—or even if you haven't even entered the service—this episode will help you understand the how and when of separating from the Air Force.
03:40 - Important terminology and definitions
11:03 - Getting started on getting out
18:15 - When and where to "push the button"
19:45 - The all-important and inclusive outprocessing checklist
28:43 - Planning for what comes next
33:08 - Getting orders and what to do with your leave
37:25 - Your Date of Separation
Email your questions and comments to airforceofficerpodcast@gmail.com. Join the discussion about the podcast, the Air Force, officership, and the Profession of Arms at https://www.facebook.com/groups/airforceofficerpodcast/.

044 - 21A Aircraft Maintenance Officer with Capt Jenny Ruhnke Jul 15, 2020

Show notes

Capt Jenny Ruhnke is an Aircraft Maintenance Officer with an extensive background covering not only the maintenance career field, but Officer Training School, multiple deployments, and community involvement.
03:46 - Jenny's background and experience getting accepted into USAFA (see Northwestern Prep School: http://www.northwesternprep.com and Falcon Foundation: https://www.falconfoundation.org)
11:51 - Assignment at Officer Training School
23:52 - 21A Aircraft Maintenance Officer career path
29:52 - Why do Aircraft Maintenance Officers exist?
36:40 - Relationship with other officers
41:30 - Career highs and lows
49:38 - Professional Development (see Start with Why by Simon Sinek: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1591846447)
01:00:41 - Commentary
Contact Jenny at jenelizd@gmail.com or on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrs.skyecanyon/
Give Jenny your support as she competes for Mrs. Nevada: https://mrsnevadaamericapageant.com/vote-for-jenny/
Email your questions and comments to airforceofficerpodcast@gmail.com. Join the discussion about the podcast, the Air Force, officership, and the Profession of Arms at https://www.facebook.com/groups/airforceofficerpodcast/.

043 - 11M Mobility Pilot (KC-135) with Lt Col Lacy Gunnoe Jul 08, 2020

Show notes

Colin interviews Lt Col Lacy Gunnoe about being a KC-135 pilot, the transition into and differences of the Air National Guard, the officer mindset, and much more.
02:43 - Lacy's background and experience getting into the Air Force through Air Force ROTC.
10:12 - Things Lacy would change about Air Force ROTC
19:54 - UPT and being a KC-135 pilot on active duty
24:31 - Transition to the Air National Guard
27:07 - 11M KC-135 Pilot career field
32:44 - Dealing with adversity
35:34 - Working with the "aircrew" on the KC-135
45:36 - Professional development
Team RWB: https://www.teamrwb.org
The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0967285550
Books by Wayne Dyer: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=wayne+dyer&i=stripbooks&ref=nb_sb_noss_2
Books by Tony Robbins: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=tony+robbins&i=stripbooks&crid=2RC6GLE2ZR2A1&sprefix=tony+%2Cstripbooks%2C181&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_5
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0316017930
Books by Ryan Holiday: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=ryan+holiday&i=stripbooks&ref=nb_sb_noss
Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University: https://www.daveramsey.com/fpu
56:09 - Commentary
Contact Lacy at thepilotspeaker@gmail.com or on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lacygunnoe/
Email your questions and comments to airforceofficerpodcast@gmail.com. Join the discussion about the podcast, the Air Force, officership, and the Profession of Arms at https://www.facebook.com/groups/airforceofficerpodcast/.

042 - Protecting freedom while giving up our own Jul 01, 2020

Show notes

After a listener sent in a question, Colin and Reed felt it necessary and timely to address the topic of freedom and the restrictions placed on members of the military.
00:41 - Colin's Big News!
05:24 - How to engage with social and political issues
09:25 - Restrictions on First Amendment rights (see AFI 51-508: https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_ja/publication/afi51-508/afi51-508.pdf
DODI 1325.06: https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/132506p.pdf
AFI 1-1: https://static.e-publishing.af.mil/production/1/af_cc/publication/afi1-1/afi1-1.pdf
15:23 - Why does this matter? (see George Washington, “Instructions to Company Captains: General Instructions to all the Captains of Companies,” 29 July 1757, http://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/02-04-02-0223)
17:38 - Defining discipline
28:41 - What does discpline do for the military member? (see Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, by JK Rowling: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0439784549/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_Wob.Eb1B85DDA
On Killing, by Dave Grossman: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FKS4QRO/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_U_Upb.EbGD6S57K)
34:59 - What does discipline of the military do for society?
42:33 - How does discipline work in reality? (see CSAF and CMSAF Dialogue on Race: https://www.facebook.com/csafofficial/videos/332011547783097/
Reed's lecture on outcome vs relationship: https://youtu.be/d4sI0pc9eUU)
52:45 - How does discipline impact a unit?
Email your questions and comments to airforceofficerpodcast@gmail.com. Join the discussion about the podcast, the Air Force, officership, and the Profession of Arms at https://www.facebook.com/groups/airforceofficerpodcast/.

041 - 13B Air Battle Manager and 11M Mobility Pilot (C-130) with Lt Col (Ret) Adam Jung Jun 24, 2020

Show notes

From being the stealth cadet in Air Force ROTC, to planning the air campaign in Iraq, to Hurricane Katrina response, and then separating at 15 years of service, Lt Col (Ret) Adam Jung has had anything but a typical Air Force career. This interview covers all those things and more.
03:05 - Adam's background and experiences as an Air Battle Manager
15:13 - Retraining to be a pilot
26:54 - Choosing to separate at 15 years of service
37:12 - 13B Air Battle Manager career field
50:55 - 11M Mobility Pilot (C-130) career field
57:48 - Lessons learned
01:13:08 - Commentary
Contact Adam at jungada@hotmail.com.
Email your questions and comments to airforceofficerpodcast@gmail.com. Join the discussion about the podcast, the Air Force, officership, and the Profession of Arms at https://www.facebook.com/groups/airforceofficerpodcast/.

040 - 11F Fighter Pilot (F-16) with Major John Waters Jun 17, 2020

Show notes

In today's episode, Colin interviews Major John "Rain" Waters about his career in the Air Force. They cover the importance of mentors, whether officers are needed to fly the F-16, and what it's like being the Viper demo team pilot.
03:26 - Rain's background and experiences in the Air Force
08:59 - The role of mentors and personal ownership
14:32 - Having a team mentality
24:07 - 11F Fighter Pilot and why officers fly
34:35 - Being the Viper demo team pilot
41:07 - Purpose of the Air Force demo teams
47:12 - Using experience as an officer to solve problems
51:19 - Traditional vs IMA positions
54:19 - Rain's reasons for joining the Air Force Reserve
57:38 - The Afterburn Podcast (see: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/id1496428378)
01:01:52 - Commentary
Contact and follow Rain on Instagram @rainwaters27 or on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/theafterburnpodcast)
Email your questions and comments to airforceofficerpodcast@gmail.com. Join the discussion about the podcast, the Air Force, officership, and the Profession of Arms at https://www.facebook.com/groups/airforceofficerpodcast/.

039 - Deep dive into USAFA with Capt David Rowe Jun 10, 2020

Show notes

Continuing after the previous episode, Capt David Rowe takes a deep dive into the life and progression of being at cadet at USAFA.
04:21 - Basic Cadet Training and the first year
10:43 - Summers and professional development opportunities
15:26 - Year 2
20:59 - Moving into the upper class of cadets
18:56 - Notification of selection process
29:56 - Year 4 (see Lt Col Jay Zeamer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Zeamer_Jr.)
41:02 - Graduation week
45:42 - "Selling" USAFA
49:26 - Commentary
Email your questions and comments to airforceofficerpodcast@gmail.com. Join the discussion about the podcast, the Air Force, officership, and the Profession of Arms at https://www.facebook.com/groups/airforceofficerpodcast/.

038 - How do you become an Air Force officer? Part 3 (USAFA) with Capt David Rowe Jun 03, 2020

Show notes

In the first of two episodes on USAFA, Reed interviews Capt David Rowe about the application process, nominations, and the whole person concept.
02:39 - Introduction and Dave's background
05:25 - Nominations for appointment to USAFA
10:26 - Items needed for the application
14:31 - Physical and medical requirements
18:56 - Notification of selection process
22:14 - Arrival at USAFA and Basic Cadet Training
26:29 - Monetary value of USAFA education
28:39 - Whole person concept
31:28 - The Prep School
36:17 - Commentary
Email your questions and comments to airforceofficerpodcast@gmail.com. Join the discussion about the podcast, the Air Force, officership, and the Profession of Arms at https://www.facebook.com/groups/airforceofficerpodcast/.

037 - 19ZXA Special Tactics Officer with Major John Doe May 27, 2020

Show notes

Special Tactics Officers play a critical role in delivering airpower for our joint partners and leading battlefield airmen. In this episode Major John Doe (alias) explains his experience as a cadet at USAFA, preparing for selection, and working to correct personal character flaws.
05:15 - Introduction and John's background
10:45 - Being a cadet at USAFA
16:36 - Earning a pilot slot
18:47 - John decides to pursue STO selection (see Air Force Special Tactics: https://www.airforcespecialtactics.af.mil)
29:11 - Explaining the Special Tactics Officer career field
40:04 - Who does the STO exist for?
46:20 - Highs and lows of being a STO
53:39 - John's thoughts on professional development
59:01 - Hindsight advice to Cadet John Doe
01:04:34 - Commentary
Contact Air Force Special Tactics at STO.recruiter@us.af.mil.
Email your questions and comments to airforceofficerpodcast@gmail.com. Join the discussion about the podcast, the Air Force, officership, and the Profession of Arms at https://www.facebook.com/groups/airforceofficerpodcast/.

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CommissionED: The Air Force Officer Podcast – Colin Slade & Reed Gann

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