Countless Opportunities -- Leadership, teamwork make great things happen

  • Published
  • By Chief Master Sgt. William Hartman
  • 22nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
Truly, there is no better organization than the United States Air Force in which each serving member is afforded countless opportunities to assume leadership roles as part of a team. 

Be it for professional reasons or through volunteerism, be it small or monumental, the opportunities are plentiful. 

Believe me when I tell you from the very instant each and every one of us signed up to serve our country, we have been leaders. 

Now, combine that leadership with teamwork and great things are bound to happen.
A good analogy of this is a baton relay race where each and every team member, from the coach to the team captain to the most junior person on the team, all hold an equal and vitally important role in sustaining the will and determination to win.
Whether you're holding the baton or passing the baton, whether you're coaching the team or crossing the line for the win, if one person on the team fails, then the entire team is impacted. 

It quickly becomes apparent, the better the team, the more likely the team is to find and achieve success. 

Great teams also experience traits such as integrity, honesty, humility, courage, commitment, sincerity, passion, confidence, wisdom, and determination.
And let's not forget that one of the greatest traits leaders can bestow on their team is giving credit and praise to the entire team and not solely upon one's self.
With a mix of active duty, reserve and guard forces, we can safely attest that McConnell AFB is most definitely one great team. 

So the next time you see a McConnell-based KC-135 grace the Kansas sky, take a moment to reflect on what Team McConnell did to safely put those planes in the air in an effort to meet our mission. Much like the baton race; meeting our mission takes leadership and teamwork. 

From the schedulers who arranged the aircrews and aircraft for the mission, to the supply troops who procured the parts, to the fuel troops who provided the fuel, to the maintainers who pre-flight, launch, recover, inspect and repair, to the security forces defenders who protect our aircraft and personnel, to the transportation troops who bus the air crew to the flight line, to the air traffic controllers who clear the flight path, to the aircrews themselves from takeoff to touchdown, and so many others, it becomes apparent that not only is our team great, but it is vast. 

So again, as our KC-135's soar by, know with a sound vote of confidence that jet's sorties is the result of a great team, bringing to the table great leadership and clearly demonstrating how at McConnell AFB, "We Lead!"