U.S. Air Force Implements New Gate Greeting Policy
The U.S. Air Force has implemented a new greeting policy for gate guards, referred to as Defenders, at its installations. This policy follows a January 30 memo from Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force David Wolfe. The memo highlighted the significance of professional greetings in fostering trust, authority, and pride within the service.
The new Air Force policy emphasizes professional greetings to foster trust, authority, and pride within the service.
At Altus Air Force Base in Oklahoma, the mandated greeting, "Good morning, sir/ma'am. Welcome to Altus AFB. Victory begins here!", was introduced on February 4. This new protocol has elicited diverse reactions from base personnel.
Negative Reactions Met with Accountability Warnings
An internal email from MSgt. Bradley Opfar cautioned against disrespecting Defenders for delivering the scripted greeting. The email documented negative responses from individuals, including comments like "Don't tell me that anymore" and "You sound like a Walmart greeter."
It stated that any disrespect towards Defenders would lead to accountability, potentially involving charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice for service members and reports to supervisors for civilian employees.
Disrespect towards Defenders delivering the scripted greeting is explicitly warned against, with potential accountability under the Uniform Code of Military Justice for service members.
A spokesperson for Altus Air Force Base confirmed that "victory begins here" is the base's vision and reaffirmed the Air Force's commitment to professionalism and respect. The spokesperson indicated that disrespect towards any community member would not be tolerated.
Part of Broader Cultural Shifts
This new mandate aligns with broader cultural changes within the Air Force, which have also encompassed adjustments to uniform and fitness inspection policies and grooming standards.