Fellow Daedalians, We looked back to our beginnings, our evolufor the last several months, the Board of tion, the changes in Airpower and the Services

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1 Fellow Daedalians, In 216, we celebrate eighty-two years as an organization. What a wonderful history we have, how fortunate we are to be its stewards, and what a responsibility we have to its future and success. relevance with today s airpower and in today s environment. It should be no surprise, but everything has changed and this became a more complex challenge to address. We looked back to our beginnings, our evolufor the last several months, the Board of tion, the changes in Airpower and the Services Directors has engaged a committee to explore to better understand our present. And, our how we present and market ourselves both Order has changed over the years. The most internally and externally. This was done in significant change though, was in 1953, over response to the subject of membership that 6 years ago. We did a deep dive into our is a recurring topic at both the Flight and current membership, and along with a much National level and the many initiatives taken better understanding, found ourselves with since 2 to address it. Using our tenets thoughtful observations and recommendaand objectives as a guide, our expectation tions for a way ahead. was implementing updated communication techniques, a new website and outreach One of the recommendations challenges would greatly assist our membership and the requirement for pilot-only eligibility. For donation efforts. As the committee delved many this challenges the fundamental nature into the topic with the assistance of two of the Order and the reluctance to change outside consultants, we realized membership is absolute. With understanding of the sigwas only a symptom of the larger issue of nificance and emotion tied to this proposal,

2 I m going to take you on a short journey, a step back in time, if you will, to those that started the Daedalians and let you hear from them about their organization. March 26, 1934 our Order of Daedalians was born at Maxwell Air Force Base, AL. Sixteen years after the WWI armistice and thirteen years after talks began in 1921 about organizing WWI pilots, thirty-five officers chartered and set us on the course we now fly. The requirements to becoming a member were simple: (1) a commissioned officer, (2) pilot of a heavier than air aircraft, and (3) rated no later than November 11, At the time, they were all US Army Air Corps. From those humble beginnings and small numbers, the Order eventually identified over 14, pilots who flew in WWI. Lt. Gen. Hal George, our first commander, and much later permanent Chairman of the Board, recounted the genesis of the Order and emphasized in capital letters, this organization was about those who FIRST FLEW THEIR COUNTRY S AIRPLANES IN TIME OF WAR. The Daedalians were then a fraternity of and about WWI military officer pilots only. It stayed that way until The Order started with an emphasis on camaraderie, but it did not take long to seek purpose as well. As the nation sat on the cusp of WWII, the Air Corps was growing rapidly as the Army began to gird itself for war once again. During the annual membership meeting held at Patterson Field on November 12, 194, our commander, Maj. Gen. George H. Brett, unable to be there because of duties in D.C., sent a message to the small gathering that read in part:...the Daedalian group has been the work horse for the Air Corps for a good many years, in most cases, the backbone of our aviation leaders. There is more aviation knowledge concentrated in Daedalians than in any other group in the world. I hope that every Daedalian will give this his most serious consideration with the view of taking some positive action as in the manner we can really contribute something to the Air Corps, to National Defense, and to the Order, and, accordingly get a great deal out of it. It seems a bit ironic today when we consider our first members, as we tend to view them through the prism of WWI. After all, that was the catalytic circumstance that drove our founding. In fact, as Gen. Brett notes in the years after WWI, the experience of The Great War followed many of those pilots as they grew The Daedalian group has been the work horse for the Air Corps for a good many years in most cases, the backbone of our aviation leaders. There is more aviation knowledge concentrated in Daedalians than in any other group in the world. I hope that every Daedalian will give this his most serious consideration with the view of taking some positive action as in the manner we can really contribute something to the Air Corps, to National Defense, and to the Order, and, accordingly get a great deal out of it. in leadership expertise, and stature during the interwar decades and into what would be WWII. Our organization was reflected in the active leadership and perpetuation and purpose grew in importance to them. We then reflected airpower of the day and were in the midst of its evolution. By 195, WWII had been over for five years, and the Korean War was just beginning. Over sixteen million Americans had been under arms in WWII and military airpower saw some of the greatest techno- logical and tactical advances along with some of the greatest aviation skill and sacrifice one can imagine. The cause of airpower had once again been furthered in a way that only war can foster. At the annual Daedalian meeting in 195, membership eligibility changes were considered in order to include the WWII pilots under a junior category. The WWI pilots were not ready to open their ranks and the vote failed! In April 1953, the Korean War was in its final months and the youngest Daedalian was well over fifty. It was clear to the leadership that the Order faced a choice, change the membership requirements or allow the Order to pass away. In a letter to the April 1953 annual meeting, then commander Maj. Gen. Clements McMullen sent the following to the membership: Now that we Daedalians have had opportunity to contemplate the significance of the accomplishments of the World War I Pilot Officers, I think it is time for us to consider the manner of extending the glory of those accomplishments throughout the ages to come. In our busy lives, few people have had opportunity to properly evaluate the impact of flying on humanity. In my collection of mementos, I have a small square of fabric taken from the first heavier than air aircraft that ever flew. Just think how we would value a small piece of the first boat or the first wheel that ever turned. All previous civilization was developed as a result of boats and wheels. The aircraft, as such, is a much greater accomplishment than the boat or the wheel. Aircraft operation is not delimited by shorelines or paved highways. The flying officers of the Aviation Section of the United States Army Signal Corps made flying a commonplace performance. More than any other group of people in the whole world, we developed the vehicle which the Wright Brothers had proven to be possible. Our experience gained during those early days was the foundation of the air industry, air transportation and air military operation. We have lived so closely with this that few of us realize those profound accomplishments. I think those accomplishments justify an ageless continuation of the names of the many who contributed to this great purpose. Having attended most of the Daedalian meetings throughout the years, I am cognizant of the thinning ranks of those people who have contributed so much to the progress of the world. If greater steps are not taken in the near future to perpetuate

3 our organization, we will be a last man s club in the next generation. I think that our accomplishments were too great to let those memories die in such a short space of time. I believe that the world at large, probably more than we ourselves, appreciates those things which we have accomplished. In order that our organization may have a purpose for ageless existence, I propose that we dedicate our efforts to a ceaseless program of improving the safety of flight. We presently have the Daedalian Trophy which is awarded annually to the Air Force Command having the best safety record throughout the previous Fiscal Year, ending on each 3 June. I think we should go further than this. We should also have an award for the national or international scheduled airline organization which had the best safety record for the previous calendar year. Further, we should foster technical studies on safety of flying and publicize those features of aeronautics and aircraft operation which do and which do not contribute to the safety of flight. While our periodic meetings provide great personal interest and satisfaction in visiting with our comrades of past years and meeting new members, I believe our achievements in the development of aviation as a vehicle for the greater promotion of international amity transcends the personal satisfaction of social meetings and warrants our embarking upon a world-wide program for the promotion of safety of flight. As previously pointed out, we are so close to the development of aviation that many of us have not taken time to contemplate the magnitude of our collective achievements and its impact upon both the civilized and uncivilized world and eventually upon the universe. These thoughts are submitted to you in the hope that you may take time to consider how our organization can go forward with such a creed. Clements McMullen Maj. Gen., USAF National Commander It was this letter, the discussion and vote that followed, that created the Named Membership that all of us enjoy today. With the Named category, the WWI pilots affirmed The Order of Daedalians was about them and the perpetuation of their names and accomplishments. What makes us unique today among other aviation and pilot organizations and there are many of them is that we each hold our membership in the name of a WWI pilot. We are stewards of their fraternity. We are an organization about airpower and those that FIRST FLEW THEIR COUNTRY S AIRPLANES IN TIME OF WAR. We call them Founder members today and they are all gone. Maj. Gen. McMullen died in January 1959, and Lt. Gen. George in 1986 at ninety-two years old. Our last Founder, Lt. William R. Bill Crooks, died in Feb 23, at the age of 19. Our charge and responsibility is to carry on the Order and what it represents. In 1959, the Order established the Daedalian Foundation to accomplish charitable tasks supporting our objectives. Today, that same Foundation inspires young Americans to futures in military aviation and acknowledges excellence in safety, skill and support of military airpower. Last year, we gave out almost $175, in scholarships supporting academic desires and flying training. We do excellent work in that realm, and it s our hope to expand both the scope and amount of that effort over time. It has been almost sixty-three years since that last major policy change in our Order. Figure 1 illustrates our membership numbers from 1969 through 215. It shows a steep annual increase in membership numbers through 1988, until we hit our high water mark around 17,5. Contributing factors to that increase were lesser eligibility changes that allowed all military services pilots, as well as Reserve and separated officers into the Order which had not been allowed previously. The latter contributing to the largest increase in numbers. It might also be noted that 1969 was the high point of the Vietnam buildup with almost 3.5 million Americans under arms and 862, in the Air Force alone. The Vietnam War ended in 1975, we inducted our first female members in 1977, and by 198 we were down to 2 million in uniform and the Air Force was down to 557,. I graduated from pilot training in 81 and we had around 4 in our class. The Air Force was producing almost 2, pilots annually. The Berlin Wall fell in 1989, the Soviet Union fell, and the Cold War ended in Desert Storm was executed and began twenty-five years of continuous deployment and combat operations. Our membership stayed relatively consistent until 1993, where we began to experience a net loss of approximately 3 members annually. By 1995, we were at 1.5 million in uniform and the Air Force was down Figure 1 Total Membership History , 15, 1, 5, 1, Reserve Officers 1978 Separated to 4,. In 2 the US was at 1.38 million in uniform and the Air Force was at 355,. In 21, additional eligibility changes allowed WASPs and Warrant Officers into the Order, but our decline continued. In 21, the military was at 1.4 milllion due to the surge in South West Asia, but the Air Force was at 334,. In 211, we started the New Pilot Initiative to incentivize new pilot training graduates to join our ranks with three years of free membership. Indications from that effort now show very poor initial results. By 214, those in uniform numbered around 1.35 million and the Air Force was down to 326,. In that same time frame, the Army had gone from 1.5 million in 1969 to 515, in 214. The other services experienced similar declines in membership. I recently, attended a Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training graduation and there were only sixteen in the class. Today, the Air Force is producing around 9 pilots per year and approximately 4 RPA pilots, 2 Combat Systems Operators and Members 2 21 WASP & WO s 25 Life Members UPT graduates 213 Advertised Life Member Cost Change Life membership totals are not available prior to 1998 in current system. 215

4 Projected Membership Trend And Potential Impacts Breakdown Of Services & Age , 1, 8, 6, 4, 2, Last Annual Convention Air Battle Managers. Over the last five to six years our decline has accelerated to over 5 loses per year and at the end of 215 we were down to 1,5 members representing 5 generations of Airmen. Everything shown in Figure 1 is factual. We have been in a state of recession for twenty-two years. We have attempted a number of initiatives with mixed results. Figure 2 projects a continued decline at the current rate over time. Given our current trend, our present environment, and the demographics of our membership, it is not only reasonable but also likely that the current trend left unchallenged will continue. We will likely be at 1969 levels of Awards Program cut Flight Rebate Program cut Members JROTC Medal Program stopped Office run by volunteers only membership within the next ten years or around 4,5 members. Unfortunately, the conclusion is that within the next seventeen years, give or take a few years, we will cease to be an effective national organization. What really drives these dire conclusions home, is the breakdown of our membership by services and age in Figure 3. This graphic shows that more than 65% of our membership is over sixty-five years old and less than 15% is under fifty. A number much less than that is active duty. Our New Pilot Initiative Program numbers are deceptive, as indicators show it is not leading to permanent participating members. Scenario based on 5 members lost per year. Tradition shows yearly that we lose 4 to death, 4 are dropped and 3 resign. We gain about 3+ new members per year. Scholarships and CFIP reduced Publication of Flyer ceases Building reverts back to the base. HQ is closed Figure 2 Figure 3 As time passes on, and our WWII and Vietnam veterans leave us, our overall membership numbers will decline greatly. We simply are not recruting enough younger members to offset the losses of our senior members. Over twenty-five years of ongoing combat operations, generational preferences, lower pilot production rates, and a perceived lack of relevance may all be partly responsible for the low numbers of younger Daedalians. This membership distribution trend is not sustainable over time. Figure 4 provides one more look at our demographics comparing new members in 211 to 215. Surprisingly, a lot of our new members are Figure 4 1,6 1,4 1,2 1, DESERT STORM, OIF, OEF, ETC. (25 years of continuous combat operations) ACTIVE DUTY AGE GROUP VIETNAM KOREA WWII New Memberships USAF USA USN USMC USG OTHER 12 NPI Under NPI Under

5 seniors some very senior, so the average age stays high. Remember too, that the high numbers for young members are predominately from the New Pilot Initiative that is not bearing long-term fruit when the free membership ends. So, what do we do? The numbers are real. The trends and projections may be debatable, but only as to when the hard decisions will need to be made. It was clear to the committee and to the Board of Directors and Trustees that we have a choice. Take deliberate action to try to perpetuate the Order consistent with the intent of the Founders, or take some action to try to improve membership as is with full knowledge of the inevitable decline of the Order. Your leadership supports deliberate action to ensure the future of the Order. As we considered how to address the challenge of relevance and grow as an elite group, we first asked ourselves What do we want the organization to stand for today? and What is our purpose? The answers to both of these questions demonstrate to us that we need to act now. To that end, we identified five action Items we took to the Board of Directors and Trustees: Create a Mission Statement to provide a clear, committed, and stated purpose. Advocate for air and space power and honor those who flew and fly in defense our nation. Amend our objectives for relevance. Delete current objective 1 since it was elevated to the new Mission Statement and add new objective 1. Support Airpower s current TOTAL FORCE (Active, Guard, Reserve, and Civil Air Patrol) Amend Objective 6 by replacing the word PILOT with AVIATOR. The precedent was set for this change in May 215 when the Order presented its exceptional performance award to an F15-E crew. Recognize exceptional performance by military aviators. Market the value of the Order of Daedalians to the following 6 Target Groups. We must show these groups individually why they need to either stay, join, support, or give. 1. Current Members: years old 2. Current Members: 46-6 years old, 3. Non-members: years old 4. Non-Members 46 6 years old 5. Active Duty Senior Leadership: O6-O1 6. External Audience/donors Establish a committee to review and make recommendations for changes and relaunch of the New Pilot Initiative to ensure its long-term effectiveness. Expand membership eligibility and change the by-law to read: Named Member: A current or former commissioned/warrant officer or WASP in any component of the United States Armed Forces who is or has been a military pilot, navigator, combat systems officer, Naval Flight Officer, Air Battle Manager, astronaut, RPA pilot or flight surgeon who is accepted as a member to perpetuate the membership of a Founder Member. Only two Named Members are authorized for any one Founder Member. The basis of this change reflects the seven rated categories found in AFI citing Title 1 authority. The basic justification for the change is to have the Daedalian membership better reflect military Airpower today while continuing to honor the names of those who first flew in defense of our nation. It specifically broadens the eligibility pool of serving members at a time of decreased pilot production and growth of other airpower capabilities. It also presents the Daedalians as a relevant organization to the serving senior leadership and public that allows us to better advocate for Airpower today and meet our stated objectives. The Board of Directors has already approved the first four actions in accordance with the by-laws, and we have stepped out smartly to act on them. The by-laws requires a membership vote and we need your support. Just as Gen. McMullen and the Founders were at a crossroads in 1953, so are we today. They chose to open the Order beyond WWI pilots to perpetuate their names. It was a difficult decision for them. For us to continue their traditions, we need to open the Order again. For many today, this is both difficult and emotional. There are some that feel the Daedalians started as a pilot organization, it is a pilot organization, and it will stay and can die as a pilot organization. In fact, it was solely a WWI pilot organization until All those that served in WWII and Korea were not worthy until the Founders had to make the hard choice of perpetuating the Order with a purpose and increased eligibility or let it die away. I think we often tend to forget that as we reminisce about our own exploits, tales, and camaraderie. The choice of the Founders then should be our guide as stewards now. It is a difficult but reasoned choice that carries no guarantee but offers the best opportunity for continuation of the Order and the goodness that it bears. While time has passed and we have gotten older, Airpower has changed dramatically, as have the Services, but the core tenets of what it means to be Daedalians are the same: We always have, and always will place Nation above self, and remain worthy of the trust and confidence of our fellow Daedalians. I close with General McMullen s words once more: These thoughts are submitted to you in the hope that you may take time to consider how our organization can go forward with such a creed. Volabamus Volamus Douglas H. Owens Lt. Gen. (Ret) National Commander