WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. -- The Whiteman Airmen's Council, an organization that exists to encourage and assist the professional development of Airmen, recently saw a change in leadership.

Airman 1st Class Artem Kukharev, 509th Communications Squadron, took the reins in January, with plans to redirect the way the council operates.

In a recent interview with the Whiteman Public Affairs staff, Airman Kukharev discussed his intentions for the council, and how he intends to pump up involvement.

As the newly-elected council president, what are your plans for the direction of the council?

"Learning from the past, I plan to direct this council down a new road, try a different approach to how we handle business. Instead of us coming to Airmen for help, it will be the Airmen who come to us.

"The council, as of right now, has nothing to lose, and the Airmen have everything to gain. I see myself more and more in a position to foster the environment of creating future leaders. It is my job to recognize an Airman's leadership potential and provide him or her with the resources they need to succeed.

"The bottom line is, this organization shouldn't have picnics as top priority -- we aren't the Red Hat Society. If you want it broken down, direct community involvement is definitely a priority."

Do you have any long-term or short-term goals you'd like to reach with the help of Whiteman Airmen?

"We have a rocky road ahead, for sure. I want to mold this into an organization that helps Airmen, not the other way around. In the past, Airmen went to undermanned fund raisers, rain or snow, cold or hot, put in 30 hours of work, and never saw that money. Not a very good return of investment.

"I want to move away from fundraising and charge into something that all Airmen need more: rank. Nobody wants to stay in the dorms long. I want to provide every deserving Airman with solid bullets that will put them miles ahead of the Airman that didn't do anything. Airmen's efforts will no longer be wasted.

"Their work and talent will be rewarded, be it as an officer on the council or as just someone who's looking to help himself get ahead of the competition. That is a good ROI, and good business practice."

Why is it important for Airmen on base to be involved with the council?

"Squadron leadership doesn't like dirt bags, they don't like to see fluffed up bullets commenting on how an Airman masterfully cleaned his dorm parking lot of cigarettes.

"They do want to see something like how an Airman took the initiative, and went to a professional development class, then came up with a great idea that impacted the largest population on base- the Airmen, all while strengthening bonds with the local community.

"I stress an open forum; a member of the Executive Board is as good as a first-time Airman, is as good as the president of the council. Anyone can change this program, anyone can impact this whole base.  I promise to give them the resources."

What kinds of things does the council accomplish that Airmen should care about?

"This council aims to make accomplished Airmen. That is our product, if an Airman has a good attitude and a wants to help himself, we aim to be the one-stop shop."

"The Airman's Council is not strictly about EPR bullets or making one's self look good. It's about creating character and representing Airmen as a whole. Whether it is fundraising, charity or professional development, we aim to mentor and give a voice to the biggest part of the Air Force ... our Airmen."

How would you rate the involvement Airmen have with the council now, and do you have any plans to grow that involvement?

"There is no sugar coating it: we have four members including myself. But the council does have a few good ideas for incentive. I won't go too deep into that right now, but I will say I'm in the process of routing six letters of appreciation to the commanders of some worthy individuals."
 
When does the council meet, and how do people join?

"Our meetings will be held every second Tuesday of the month at the community center. As a rule of thumb, if you are an Airman, you are already a member whether active or not. But if you want to be an officer, or be on the Executive Board, you will have to be nominated and elected, and you must bring something to the table before-hand."

For whom does the council work, and to whom does it report?

"Granted, the Chief and General must sign off on anything we do outside of the normal scope of business. But the council works for the Airmen, they are our customers as well as our products, they are just more polished when they're done with us."

As the Airman's Council realigns itself as a force to directly influence the professional development of ambitious Airmen, the council president hopes to grow the involvement of lower-ranking enlisted, and improve the quality of life on Whiteman and the surrounding community.