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SOUTHWEST ASIA-Tapping to move forward in formation teaches Airmen to move forward and accomplish the mission. (U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt. Scott MacKay)
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Tap and move forward
Posted 9/28/2012 Updated 9/28/2012
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Commentary by Chief Master Sgt. Shelina Frey
380th Air Expeditionary Wing Command Chief
9/28/2012 - SOUTHWEST ASIA -- I have been here for three months and it didn't take long to see the path of excellence the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing's members have been walking and the results produced!
I have been impressed since my boots hit the ground -- the diligence and structure of how the mission is performed, and the standards displayed on a daily basis ... you continually make me proud to be your command chief!
Speaking of standards and structure ... our mission is dependent upon them, but in order to accomplish the mission we must understand the basics. Much like in enlisted military basic training, we are taught the basics of military life. Those smaller principles, elements and core tasks are essential, if not critical, in mission accomplishment.
For example, you stood in formation and were given the command, "If you are taller than the person in front of you, tap them on the shoulder and move forward!" While tapping the people in front of you and moving about may have seemed trivial, the fact is there is a reason! The time, attention and purpose invested in the basics move you forward to getting the bigger mission accomplished. So by investing in the "tap," or time, attention and purpose ... we can move forward like never before.
Our Air Force has entered an exciting era. I have been around a few years to see the development of our great Air Force and of air power.
Many of you may know my last duty station was Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. While there I took every opportunity possible to learn about the birth of air power -- you know ... Orville and Wilbur Wright. Their history was everywhere! I loved it!
The Air Force Museum has aircraft representing each era of our history, and I quickly developed a deeper love and appreciation for our Air Force's flying mission. Zoom ahead more than 60 years and we are now developing the F-35A ... wow! I haven't been around the entire time ... but I can certainly attest to the caliber of people serving in the Air Force.
But how do we continue to move our Air Force personnel forward as our air power evolves into a more superior expeditionary force? The simple answer is to "tap" and move forward. Let me explain.
The true success of our military service mission lies in your hands every day. You keep the planes flying. You treat our wounded. You keep our dining facilities open. You work in our chapels. You work in our command posts. You protect our freedoms. In short, you rock! But to keep rocking, you must "tap" and continue to move forward.
How much time have you invested in Airmanship and mentorship lately? This is crucial if we are to move in the right direction ... forward.
You must first invest time in yourself; know who you are, your strengths and weaknesses. I recall one of my favorite lessons to teach at Airman leadership school was "understanding self and others." You can better understand/tolerate others when you first understand yourself. What is your "hot" button -- what motivates you, what keeps you up at night? What are you investing your time in?
If you have ever visited the U.S. Air Force Academy, you will notice they have a big blue line on the wall. The line represents the Air Force and those cadets who have gone through the Academy; it represents their service.
Each day as cadets walk by that big blue line, they touch it ... it is just a symbol, but a powerful one indicating they are a part of something bigger than themselves. They are in service to others, but they extend the big blue line of military service by striving for excellence and becoming great officers to lead Airmen like you and me.
The key is to know where you are on the long blue line and remember to consider your strengths and weaknesses as you learn more about your craft. Have you invested time to leave your imprint on the mission and people? What would that imprint look like? How powerful is your imprint? Can you "tap" and move personnel forward?
I have had a tremendous amount of assistance finding my way around since I arrived. In fact, I am a bit overwhelmed with the attention I have attracted. I have determined that if everyone received the same amount of attention, the same depth of attention as I have, the Air Force would have no worries whatsoever.
How much attention have you given your subordinates lately? How much feedback? How much direction? I get excited when I see the positive attitudes, the teamwork, the synergy working together to make our Air Force, our armed forces better. Talk about tapping and moving forward!
We owe it to our Airmen to pay attention - to give them the opportunity to grow and prosper from our experience. I believe the things we tolerate are the very things our Airmen will embrace. As leaders we must pay attention in order to teach, to train, to listen, to support, and to be the example of integrity, service before self, and excellence in all we do! When we pay attention, we capitalize on invested time. Are you tapping? Are the Airmen under your leadership able to tap and move forward?
If you've invested time in yourself and others, paid attention to detail, then you must understand your purpose. We cannot all be leaders in the front of the line. Not everyone will achieve the rank of chief or become commanders. But we all have a purpose and that is to work for the betterment of ourselves, one another and our military.
To some, their purpose may not be so clear; it is up to supervisors, commanders and chiefs to ensure every member understands his or her purpose. It takes each and every one of us diligently fulfilling our role to fulfill the mission we've been given. By knowing your purpose and being confident where you are right now, you are a better Airman.
We are powerful as individuals -- we are indivisible together. The success of our Air Force relies on every Airman, every career field, working toward achieving the mission.
Team Phantom, we have a huge challenge put upon us ... requiring us to invest our time, pay attention, and understand our purpose for military service. We have laid the basics of tapping and moving forward. This is an exciting time, one in which we cannot afford to move backwards or to forget to use standards or structure.
Motivational speaker Jim Rohn stated, "The challenge of leadership is to be strong, not rude; be kind but not weak; be bold, but not bully; be thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble, but not timid; be proud, but not arrogant; have humor, but without folly." Team Phantom, let's not lose focus ... let's "tap" and keep moving forward to execute today and prepare for tomorrow! |
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