Why I Want to Become an Officer in the Royal Australian Air Force

Leadership and the Role of an Officer in the Australian Air Force

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is facing unique challenges from shifting threats. This means that it must be able to adjust with them in order to prevail in any conflict and maintain technological and air superiority. The leadership plays a critical role in setting the direction and determining how they will achieve these objectives. (Houston, 2007)

Why are you applying for a position of officer in the Royal Australian Air Force?

In my case, I have the attributes to help the RAAF reach these overall benchmarks. The most notable include: leadership, responsibility, teamwork, specialized skills and experience. These areas help me to want to do something more for greater society and ensure that our way of life continues. This is something the greatest civilizations will possess going back to the days of the ancient Greeks. Those who are seen in this light set the direction and tone of how various problems are addressed. ("12 Habits of Exceptional Leaders," n.d.) (Houston, 2007)

The most effective leaders understand the challenges they are dealing with and can create innovative solutions in addressing the. This is essential in assessing the situation and changing the state of mind of those around you. For example, early on in life I was placed in a position of responsibility. This is something I naturally possessed and embraced. My father instilled this in me by showing the importance of serving your country and making society a better place for everyone. The military is something I always wanted to be a part of. This is from the lack of discipline and focus in everyday society with most people settling for something less. As I became older, my sense of motivation and willingness connected with others naturally translated in greater responsibilities. From the 9th to the 12th grade, I was elected class President from the capacity to work with others and inspire them throughout the process. When I was playing Quarterback on the football team, my leadership skills have continued to develop by learning how to troubleshoot critical problems, motivate others and encourage them to push themselves as a part of the team. My role model is Tom Brady of the New England Patriots. He served as an example of what it takes to be successful on and off the field. During my career, I have gained even more experience by working with different personalities in a supervisory position. This helped me to understand what it took to lead a team, motivate those around you and encourage them to do more for the betterment of the organization. However, I felt that something was missing with the 9 to 5 routine. Instead, I wanted to be around people who are self starters and are looking to be the best they can be. The RAAF is a place where these individuals work together to help the Commonwealth maintain its position on the world stage and to help those who are the most vulnerable after natural / manmade disaster. I want to be a part of something that cannot only push me to grow as a person, but will give me a sense of satisfaction in making a positive contribution. ("12 Habits of Exceptional Leaders," n.d.) (Houston, 2007)

This sense of responsibility and teamwork can be combined with my specialized skills and experiences to benefit the RAAF in the field of Engineering. This can be used as an officer to meet the mission objectives and serve as an example for those under my command. In many modern military units, this is often lacking with leaders only paying lip service to these ideas. However, during the middle of crisis is when there is breakdown in communication, coordination and teamwork. The result is that mission objectives are missed from not having someone who possess the skills and charisma to connect with and motivate them. I can use my specialized training combined with my leadership to set a new course which is allied with the RAAF's mission. I feel this is a special attribute I bring with me which will improve force readiness and the ability to achieve operational objectives in the process. (Houston, 2007)

Integrity and assuming responsibility are important qualities for an officer in the Royal Australian Air Force. Using clear examples, demonstrate your understanding of why these qualities are important for officers.

Integrity and responsibility work hand in hand with each other. This is because all officers must have a passion for doing the right thing and helping to protect the image of the RAAF. For instance, a theory I have is that situations where there is a breakdown in command is the direct result of failing to have a deeper sense of morality (i.e. integrity). If you look at the various situations over the last 70 years abuses will occur from officers remaining quiet and not speaking up when something is clearly wrong. This is what happened during the Tokyo and Nuremburg Trials. Both Nazi and Japanese officers claimed they were simply following orders by allowing the massacre of innocent civilians and prisoners of war. Yet, beneath the surface they lacked the integrity to stand up for what was right regardless of the outcome. (Goeller, 2006)