NILE (NCO Inclusive Leadership Excellence) was created in direct response to the rising rates of suicide among enlisted servicemen and women in the US Air Force.
The program addresses the cultural conditions that feed suicidal ideation in this population by targeting the one person who holds the greatest influence over their day-to-day experience: their NCO.
The Air Force boasts some of the most stressful jobs on the planet, bolstered by a culture of toughness that leaves little room for vulnerability or connection. At the bottom of this power structure sit enlisted junior airmen who, unlike their peers with regular jobs, don’t have the option to quit, transfer, or go home if the conditions get to be too much.
Rising suicide rates across the DoD over the past decade(+): A critical concern amongst our junior enlisted service members.
24/7, mission-driven, high tempo, and little downtime or solitude.
High-performing, high-stress conditions, often without a clear endpoint.
Uncertainty about the future combined with a lack of interpersonal skills and experience navigating these conditions.
NCOs typically feel little agency over their identities as leaders, or the cultures they foster as a result. Because of this, NCOs tend to perpetuate harsh military cultural norms within the microcosms of their teams.
NILE disrupts this passive mindset by facilitating NCOs through a process of connecting to their histories, their senses of self, and their personal leadership missions. This helps them learn to recognize and break the cycles of cultural toxicity, and discover their agency and power to create inclusively excellent cultures.
NILE isn’t a blanket program for all NCOs; it’s strategically targeted to specific problem areas of a command where inclusive leadership is breaking down. S2A’s development & support team identifies these problem areas in our cultural discovery phase, powered by Constellation.
Constellation is an organizational network analysis (ONA) tool developed by S2A. We use this tool to map the informal networks of influence and collaboration – known as shadow networks – that exist underneath the formal command and control structure of a given unit.
The areas of greatest cultural stress within a military unit
The positive sources of influence who make change happen
The people who are most isolated and at risk
We use these insights to build each NILE cohort, empowering each NCO participant to transform the larger culture from within.
Each NILE cohort comprises 12-18 NCOs, hand-selected for their informal networks and positive cultural influence. These NCOs help spread the word, drive interest, and accelerate widespread adoption of the program in the shortest amount of time.
Over the course of this life-changing 3-day workshop, NCOs form an authentic connection to their own identities as leaders, and learn to build a supportive culture of inclusive excellence for their most at-risk service members.
Personal stories from seasoned military veterans: Inspiring authenticity
Reflection on military culture and personal identity: Uncovering hidden biases
Recognizing the intricate relationship between culture and character development
Cultivating a sense of personal mission and identity as an influential leader
Connecting with core motivators and formative experiences: Guiding principles
Embracing an internal locus of control: Taking responsibility for change
NCOs share their personal stories with junior airmen: Fostering connection
Vulnerability and courage: Creating a supportive and open environment
Transformation through inclusive and compassionate leadership: Strengthening bonds
NILE doesn’t just help prevent suicide. It dramatically improves overall team and command performance.
When supported, engaged and empowered, NCOs and junior airmen get measurably better at accomplishing the mission. Team cultures powered by inclusive excellence will outperform more disparate or fractured teams every time.
Why? Because feeling connected and in control empowers servicemen and women to activate their full and best selves towards the work at hand.
Developed in response to the growing concern of military suicide, NILE (NCO Inclusive Leadership Excellence) remains dedicated to its mission while also yielding a range of additional benefits, including the enhancement of leadership development and unit effectiveness.
“Dan Antrim and I finished our first #NILE cohort with the 49 MXG at Holloman AFB on Friday! What an amazing experience! Do you know what I really love about my job? These people make me want to be better. A better facilitator, better leader, a better man. Their stories are amazing and the fact that they trust me to guide them through this leadership journey is an incredible privilege!
Cheers to S2A & the rest of the #NILE team for their tremendous work to boost #resilience at Kirtland AFB!
Read all about this award-winning initiative in the Logistics Officer Association 𝘌𝘹𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘙𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦!
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