The following is an example I received on Wednesday:
From: 109 AW/Information Do Not Reply Org <109.AW.Information.Do.Not.Reply.Org@us.af.mil>Sent: Wednesday, November 6, 2024 12:34 PMTo: 109 AW/All Base Personnel <109.AW.All.Base.Personnel@us.af.mil>Subject: NOVEMBER FOD WALK
ALCON,
Typically, this email would go out to the Wing FOD Committee, but I wanted to personally extend a written thank you to everyone here at the 109th. Attached is a PowerPoint slide from todays FOD Walk on the flightline. TSgt XXXX from Electrics found the “Golden Bolt”. For those outside of Maintenance, a “Golden Bolt” is placed out on the line, and is there as incentive to do a thorough FOD Walk and find Foreign Objects that could potentially lead to damage on our aircraft and equipment. It is the supervisor’s discretion as to how to reward the individual who found the bolt.
Today is my last day here as I transition into retirement. There will be a ceremony later over December drill. Thank you to all of those who I have met since arriving at the 109th in September 2005, it was a change coming from Active Duty. Tomorrow, I will be starting terminal leave exactly how I want, with guiding a deer hunt for five days out of a wall tent deep in the Adirondacks. If you do venture north, I can be found this winter “carving corduroy” at Gore Mountain or at the shop in Indian Lake. Do not be a stranger, stop in, and say hello. Again, thanks to all of you for the years here.
V/R,
Joe. E. Snuffy, MSGT, NYANG
Quality Assurance Inspector
109th Airlift Wing
1 XXXXXX
Scotia, NY 12302
DSN: XXXXXXXXX
COMM: XXXXXXXX
QA Distro: 109.AW@airforce.mil
QA SharePoint: sharepoint link here
This email is from a co-worker. He had previously sent a base-wide email inviting everyone to a “FOD walk.” FOD stands for foreign object damage, and basically members walk side by side simultaneously in a straight line down the flightline where the planes are parked to check for anything that isn’t supposed to be there and could cause damage to the aircraft (i.e. bolts, screws, nuts, washers, etc.).
I think a lot of this email is appropriate and effective, but I have issues with the audience it was sent to. In “Work” Sherry Turkle gives examples of the decline of “pop-in” conversations and how that can affect the workplace negatively. According to Turkle, these conversations help make “work feel like family” and helps fulfill the need for “conservations that are truly open-ended” to foster teamwork in problem solving settings. She also discusses how have this rapport with colleagues makes it easier to form mentor/mentee style relationships which encourages professional development and growth. This email is a digital example of one of these impromptu meetings Turkle discusses. The author of this email reaches out to the masses, encourages them to attend a base wide work event, and then goes further to explain the impact his fellow employees have had on his career for the years. I think the email is professional, as it discusses work related issues, but also heartwarming and thoughtful in its tone, reminding us of all the impact we have on each other’s lives, even though we are mandated to. Knowing the author of this email personally, I can attest to him being a fellow “personality hire.” The email exhibits many of his desirable soft skills. The tone of the email shows his positive attitude, courtesy, and professionalism (Fletcher and Thornton talk about this in their article “The Top 10 Soft Skills in Business Today Compared to 2012), especially when he takes the time to congratulate the person who found the “golden bolt” and thank others for their professionalism and courtesy over the years.
However, I don’t know if the audience this correspondence was sent to was appropriate. I understand he was looking for maximum participation, but to email to “All Personnel” seems unnecessary. Members from other departments who have never participated or have knowledge of what a “FOD walk” is, wouldn’t be interested in this information. Also, higher ranking individuals in charge of 100s-1000s of personnel get dozens of emails daily, and this seems like something that wouldn’t need visibility at a higher level.
Additionally, there was an attachment in this email. This attachment included a picture of all those who participated with a short caption “NOVEMBER FOD WALK: “The Golden Bolt” was found by TSgt XXX from Electric Shop.” The short length of text in this attachment along with the picture, very much reminded me of a “tweet.” Those who received the email, but didn’t necessarily have time to read the 2 full paragraphs could have opened the attachment and understood the outcome of the FOD walk within seconds. In 140 Characters, Dom Sagolla urges us to “realize that everyone’s attention is limited.” This attachment shows an understanding of that.
Overall, I appreciated this email and felt that it was postive, encouraging and effective.
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