OCR Text |
Show Page 6 June 19, 1981 HILL TOP TIMES dlforiai Effective communication changes many attitudes By TSgt. Jay L. Wells "I know you believe you understand what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant." The most important ingredient of good human relations is understanding each other. Within this process it is essential to have open, honest communications. As an equal opportunity and treatment specialist, find that almost all of the complaints have received were initially generated and are complicated by a lack of effort to 1 1 communicate effectively. This factor is especially true when attempting to communicate across ethnic, racial or sexual barriers. Supervisors and commanders must make an honest attempt to communicate despite these differences. A failure to do so will lead to a perception of an indifferent attitude toward workers, which invariably leads people to feel they are being treated differently or unfairly. Many airmen are not made aware of their responsibilities and what is expected of them, Soon, the individuals feel free to "do their own thing." except through disciplinary action. This fosters feelings of being treated differently. This is not to say that the actions taken weren't warranted, but close scrutiny of the offenses com- mitted reveals that poor com- munication has been the basis Of many problems. Air Force supervisors, military and civilian, are well trained and generally do outstanding jobs. Most do everything possible to ensure effective communication, displaying an attitude of "I care." However, a few accept or tolerate improper behavior and job performance. These same supervisors often fail to document counseling, leaving nothing to justify disciplinary action. At this point, the perception of being treated unfairly becomes real to XLm a complainant. If effective communication is present, both parties are aware of any and have sincerely atto remedy them long before tempted disciplinary action is taken. Shop morale and mission effectiveness are highly impacted by the problems human &Ot'T YpU FORGET- relations climate of the organization. The importance of a Supervisors are reluctant to strong effort toward effective comchallenge . this behavior until the munication needs to be recognized by problem becomes unmanageable everyone. MX .prevents is designed to ensure the The M-United States never faces a "shoot or lose" choice in a nuclear confrontation, Brig. Gen. James P. McCarthy, Air Force special assistant X for M-- X matters, told reporters at JA A) 'sBroofi Randolph AFB, Texas. "What we're looking for is confidence in our own military forces so we can back away and recognize in a crisis situation that even if an adversary were foolish enough to launch AFIC OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS ot lose' cipMoini. an attack on this country, that we still have sufficient time to respond in a rational way, doing so to minimize our damage and avoid further escalation," the general said. He said the major reasons for having are the Soviet arms buildup the M-over the past decade and the increasing vulnerability of America's X 1,054 intercontinental land-base- d " ballistic missiles. "The current Brig. Gen. James P. McCarthy, Air Force special assistant for M-- X matters, fields questions from Air Force reporters a news during CIST? conference Randolph Texas. at AFB, M-- X c " program of 4,600 shelters and 200 missiles is designed to meet the projected Soviet threat. If that threat does not materialize, then obviously we could scale it down. If the threat grows, then we would respond. And M-multiple protective shelters are one of those responses." Present plans call for deploying the M-ballistic missile system in UtahNevada and possibly New MexicoTexas. Construction should begin in 1982 and the system be completed as planned in 1989. Asked about alternatives to the M-General McCarthy said the Air Force has studied 35 different systems over the past 20 years and the M-- was selected as the best answer to America's projected needs. "The thing is that they (the other systems) have some drawbacks. In many cases the drawback is simply X X X (U.S. Air Force Photo by SSgt. David G. Jones) Everything advertised in the Hill Top Times must be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to the race, creed, color, national origin or sex of the purchaser. user or patron. A confirmed violation or rejection of this policy of equal opportunities by an advertiser will result in the refusal to print advertising from that source. - cost." He said the M-- X basing system is the most inexpensive, most accurate system that could be produced. Responding to questions on the wisdom of waiting until after an attack before reacting, the general said that as a system that can survive a first allows the United strike, the M-States to avoid a "shoot or lose" X situation "In an unstable situation where you know "you have to shoot or lose, your finger inches closer to the trigger. Knowing your finger is closer to the trigger, the other side brings his finger closer to the trigger. Pretty soon you're both sitting there with no room between the finger and the trigger." The general believes that with M-the Soviets would need to channel their efforts into a survivable basing system of their own, rather than building more warheads. Once that is done, he said, strategic stability will be achieved and the threat of nuclear confrontation less likely in a crisis situation. General McCarthy said, "What's most important is that as military leaders, we need to make sure the president is never placed in a circumstance where his only alternative is to shoot or lose." (AFNS) X MorMedia Sales, Inc., 1152 West Riverdale Road, Ogden, (Itah 84403. Phone 394-965Sorry, classified ads by mail only. Send $3 to P.O. Box 423, Roy, Utah 84067. 5. |