Leadership: Flying Off The Handlebar

Archives

June 16,2008: Recently, an alarmed U.S. Air Force general spotted a British Royal Air Force pilot, who was serving with an American fighter squadron. This is normal, as each year, hundreds of U.S. and foreign troops serve in each others forces in an exchange program that improves eveyone's understanding of how their allies operate.

The American general went after the British officer for having a "non-regulation" moustache. The Brit was sporting a six inch handlebar, while USAF regulations only allow much more modest upper lip adornment. The British officer stood his ground, pointing out that in such matters, the regulations of the exchange officers country apply, not that of the host nation. After consulting air force lawyers, the American general backed off, and escalation was avoided. Another valuable lesson learned.

 

X

ad

Help Keep Us From Drying Up

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling.

Each month we count on your contributions. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage.
Subscribe   Contribute   Close