Published Airpower Journal - Spring 1995

WITH CHANGES in the air, you can almost hear the herd of Sacred cows boarding the train, destined no doubt for the same crypt that holds both the lost Ark of the Covenant and the "regular" crew chief. We see change everywhere (even the "new" Air Force uniform is now old)-in Congress, in the senior leadership of the Air Force, and in the focus and format of the Airpower Journal. Changes outlined by my predecessors at APJ in previous editions leave us all with new challenges. I'm thrilled to take these challenges up with you.

In these last few months, the public has been forming opinions of the new Republican majority that was swept into office in the November elections. And it seems that just about everyone except Judge Lance Ito has had an opinion on the "new" uniform. Of course, he was never asked. But our metrics suggest that you have yet to form an opinion on the substantive APJ format changes discussed in recent editorials. I can remember great ululations over the demise of Air University Review and the shift in APJs focus away from strategy and policy issues. Now that they're back, we're alarmed that your silence is deafening. I can certainly understand why.

When I was a captain, I thought I could run the Air Force and often wrote about that. My superiors were patient and attentive to my grand strategic lucubrations, knowing well they would never jeopardize a budget line. My professional writing adolescence occurred during the Reagan years when there was nothing sacred about cows. There were cows enough for everyone. In this era of fiscal retrenchment and the attendant anxiety that downsizing brings, I'm sure you've been investing more brain cells in your promotion portfolio-doing your job to the best of your ability-than in contributing to the professional discourse this journal represents. These days, the challenge of putting food on the table is much more urgent.

I'd suggest to you, though, that with these focus and format changes, there has never been a better time to diversify your promotion portfolio by becoming an active participant on these pages. These days, everyone's budget line is in jeopardy already and the train carrying the sacred cows has since crested the horizon. Some of the ideas forwarded in APJ will scream for your critique. You don't have to write a thesis to respond--and actively participate in the professional dialogue. In today's Quality Air Force, your supervisors have everything to gain if your name appears as a contributor. If you're intimidated by your supervisors, let me know. Don't sit on a paper you're waiting to incorporate into some larger effort. Send it in and we'll work with you and process your papers quickly in our attempt to keep topics current.

As editor of the Air Force's only professional journal, I help shape the professional dialogue of the Air Force officer corps. Your active participation in this forum doesn't make my job any harder or easier. It simply gets the job done.

So, I'm thrilled about the changes in the APJ focus. Tell us what you think about them. More important, seize the opportunities afforded by the new format. The Air Force is hungry for your ideas. Let us hear from you soon. JWS

Disclaimer

The conclusions and opinions expressed in this document are those of the author cultivated in the freedom of expression, academic environment of Air University. They do not reflect the official position of the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, the United States Air Force or the Air University.

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