Commitment and Dedication Published Nov. 6, 2014 By 1st Lt. Mitchell R. Metzler 22nd Maintenance Group MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- When leadership in the U.S. Air Force comes to mind, most thoughts are steered toward individuals who are in high positions of authority. Regardless of these notions, leadership is exercised in nearly every aspect of our day to day mission regardless of rank, both officer and enlisted. We give our young Airmen misleading direction when we tell them we are leaders before we are followers. In order to be a good leader, you must be a good follower which not only requires commitment, but also a high level of dedication. Pat Riley, former NBA player and five time NBA champion as a coach, stated "There are only two options regarding commitment. You're either in or you're out. There is no such thing as life in-between." Imagine how some of the greatest NBA players such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Magic Johnson reacted to these words. Riley wasn't necessarily questioning his players' commitment; rather, he was inspiring his team to be the best they could possibly be. In other words, if we want to be great as leaders and followers, we must be all-in! In today's military, one in which fewer personnel are doing more than ever before, the Air Force chief of staff and chief master sergeant of the Air Force are charging us to answer the nation's call to serve as well as give that all-in type of dedication. From the Airman fresh out of basic military training to the "ready to retire" colonel, we all must strive to be 100 percent committed. Being all-in produces the best Airman, both leaders and followers. This type of commitment and dedication is what will enable us to remain the world's greatest Air Force for years to come.