What the Tuskegee Airmen Taught Us: Never Quit

The Tuskegee Airmen of World War II fame left an enduring legacy for generations…Veterans all!. Known as the “Red Tails” because of the red paint on the tail of their fighter jets, they were focused, tenacious and skilled pilots. Their impact would be impressive in any generation, but considering the context and era in which they served, their tenacity and accomplishments are awe-inspiring. The Tuskegee Airmen were the first black military aviators in the U.S. Army Air Corps (AAC), a precursor of the U.S. Air Force. The military wouldn’t be desegregated until July 1948 when President Harry Truman would issue Executive Order 9981 desegregating the U.S. Armed Forces and mandating equality of opportunity and treatment. Consider just a few of their accomplishments in an environment where they were fighting two wars: 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses and over 15,000 sorites flown. They flew over 200 escort missions, and their escort loss rate was nearly 50% less than the Air Force average. The Red Tails destroyed 36 German planes in the air and in one two-day period the Red Tails shot down 12 German fighters. They knocked out 237 German jets on the ground. They destroyed 1,000 rail cars and support vehicles. Sixty-six Tuskegee Airmen were killed in action and another 32 were shot down and captured as POWs. As part of the “Tuskegee experiment,” eventually 1,000 skilled pilots, over 14,000 navigators and a slew of supporting staff like mechanics, maintenance workers, bombardiers, and other operational positions were trained. Among the inaugural graduating class in 1941 was Benjamin O. Davis Jr., a graduate of West Point and the son of Brig. Gen. Benjamin O. Davis, one of two black officers in the entire U.S. military. Many of the original Tuskegee Airmen would go on to successful military careers in the military, including Davis, who would become the first black general in the new U.S. Air Force; and Daniel “Chappie” James Jr., who would become the nation’s first black four-star general in 1975. In 2007 President Bush honored them with the Congressional Gold Medal. These extraordinary men lived by six guiding principles: Aim High, Believe in Yourself, Use Your Brain, Be Ready to Go, Never Quit, and Expect to Win.  that are applicable today. 

While all the principles are meaningful, I’d like to zero in on one….“never quit.” In the middle of a growing global pandemic, it is easy to get discouraged, and to hunker down and accept the status quo as part of the so-called “new normal.” Digital and organizational transformation has accelerated. I think it is fair to say that in the last 6 months we have experienced 6 years of change. As I think about the importance of leadership, or more specifically our responsibility to be leaders of character by modeling the right behaviors, and lead on-going civil discourse, now is the time for us to step up and make a difference, to lean into the discomfort of change, to be comfortable with the uncomfortable…to never quit. 

These changes have underscored the point that we live in a VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous) world…we are experiencing the VUCANIZATION of global market economies and business models. There is no short-term end in sight. In many ways this is a great opportunity for effective leaders to make lemonade out of lemons…to create points of difference in a variety of areas, including one’s business model. It is a chance to develop relationships of relevance. A chance to rethink radical inclusion and radial collaboration. If we don’t emerge from this VUCA experience unchanged we will have missed an opportunity to grow personally, professionally, and organizationally. The challenge for leaders is to not just survive, but to thrieve….to emerge from this experience as leaders who will drive positive change for their communities, customers and business models…to never quit. The antidote to winning in a VUCA work is, well, VUCA…to overcome volatility create a compelling vison and supporting strategies that drive you towards your end state. To overcome uncertainty, create understanding. To overcome complexity, create clarity and priorities. To overcome ambiguity, create a culture of agility. Remember, the future is not just where you are going, it is a destination you are creating. The Red Tails left us a legacy…keep calm and never quit!