Air Force statistics indicate the average airman coming into the Air Force is 19.9 years old. Out of those airmen, nearly 16 percent had at least 15 hours of c ollege credit. I am part of that percentage of new recruits with a college degree that chose to serve as an enlisted person. I was surprised when I arrived here to find that some assume the lack of rank to be a lack of intelligence. This assumption is not true.
Most airmen are smart, motivated and want to make a difference.
Yet, once new airmen arrive at their permanent station, this recruiting concept may be lost if new airmen aren't treated as the best of the best or held to a higher standard. Today's airmen are not carbon copies of yesterday's Air Force. We come with different perspectives and an abundance of innovative ideas. Yes, we lack military experience. Yes, some of our ideas are not practical in a military environment.