COMMENTARY>>U.S. Air Force: A team sport

By Maj. Sean Robertson
314th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron commander

Five…four...three…two...he shoots, he scores….the buzzer sounds and the pile on begins. How many times have we watched with excitement as this scene unfolds on the basketball court, football field or on the ice? The celebration of sports and the impact they have has always been a big part of our culture. In the Air Force, many of the same concepts that make a great sports team will make a great squadron. Concepts such as knowing and playing your role, the camaraderie that comes from being able to rely on one another, and finally, mentoring the younger players to someday step up to leadership roles.

These three concepts are all things we can apply not only on the intramural fields, but also in our daily work as we continue to fly, fight, and win.

Everyone knows the great players Michael Jordan, John Elway, Mario Lemieux, but what about players like Kurt Rambis and
“Moose” Johnston. Great players in their own right, they fit the particular niche the team needed and made the team better. As a member of a squadron with many moving parts, we too must find our niche. Whatever the need is, fill it to the best of our ability to make the squadron better. Sometimes that role might be stepping up to take the game winning shot (fixing the grounding write-up on a critical mission) or it may be making the pass (delivering the needed part). Either way, without both members working together the shot will never go up and the “W” will never be recorded.

Which leads right into the next critical part of playing team sports in the squadron - having each other’s back not only at the work place but off. On the court, you hear players talking, calling out picks, letting teammates know where players or hazards are and giving guidance and praise. As members of a squadron we must look out for each other.

The Air Force has adopted this concept in the form of the wingman concept. As a wingman and teammate, we must communicate to others in the squadron to make sure all members are aware of what is going on, what is expected, and to push and motivate our teammates to strive to be better. There is inherent risk in many of the jobs that we accomplish on a daily basis and in the activities that we participate in after work. As a wingman, we must communicate with those around us to identify those risks that in some cases may not be readily visible to the other members of the team.

By communicating and looking out for each other we can better accomplish the mission without hurting individuals or damaging equipment. As well as having each other’s back, great teams sustain greatness by continually teaching and molding the next generation.

There are two ways to gain experience – either through one’s personal experiences over time or by learning from the experiences of those who have come before us. In sports, it is not uncommon for great teams to bring in grisly old veterans to mold and teach the younger players. By doing this, the club hopes to increase the speed at which the younger players can step up into a greater role. The club also hopes to provide the next generation with a proven work ethic and attitude for winning that will push the team to new heights.

As a squadron, we must continue to grow our replacements. Personnel changeover is as much a reality in sports as it is in the squadron. The great sports teams such as the Patriots and Lakers maintain sustained greatness over the years through the establishment of a tradition of winning and hard work. Great players have left, new ones have come up behind them and maintained the tradition. Supervisors must continually challenge their Airmen and provide them opportunities to build those experiences that they will need down the road. Through a continual drive for excellence and focus on the future, a squadron will thrive as do the sports teams that understand and execute these principles.

Many of the same concepts that lead to excellence on the sports field also lead to excellence in the Squadron. Through knowing each other’s role, looking out for each other, and establishing a tradition of winning, a squadron can truly become great. Are you ready to play ball?