When I was asked to write this article, many ideas ran through my head. However, one kept coming back to me, followership. Over the years, our focus has shifted to developing leaders through various forums. As we did this, it seemed that the need for developing followers has become a second thought.
From our early days as Airmen, we were instilled with the importance of The Enlisted Force Structure or as most of us know it, “The Little Brown Book.” Early on in my career, it was carried in our cargo pockets; however, today it’s readily available on your desktop computer or your smart device. As we read through “The Little Brown Book,” we see followership and follower mentioned several times in various sections. They are listed in Chapter 2, Air Force Leadership Levels, and Chapter 4, Responsibilities. If you haven’t read through these chapters specifically in a while, I encourage you to refresh your memory on what is required of us as Airmen.