Page 2 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt 9-25-15

September 25, 2015 COMMENTARY Thunderbolt
http://www.luke.af.mil
2 www.aerotechnews.com/lukeafb

Step out of comfort zone

ACTION LINE by Master Sgt. can lead to complacency which results in mediocrity and
PABLO VALES substandard performance. This is not the message we want
56fw.pa@us.af.mil to send to our Airmen.
623-856-7011 56th Medical Group
If you want to be a leader in the Air Force, you must take
The Commander’s Action When was the last time you ULVNV'RQ·WJHWVWXFNRQDXWRSLORW:KHQ\RXWDNHRQQHZ
stepped outside of your comfort challenges you must be prepared to stumble, but learn from
Line is your direct line to me zone? I was recently asked to as- your mistakes and the mistakes of others. When you stum-
sume a new leadership position ble, own it and learn from it. Taking on unknown roles is a
which involves duties and respon- time of vulnerability but we all must learn to embrace new
sibilities that I have never done challenges and opportunities. When you are able to conquer
Master Sgt. Pablo Vales before, and yes, I panicked. your self-doubt, personal growth and satisfaction will follow
and you will become a better leader, mentor and follower.
I have spent my career honing my
skills to be the best dental lab technician I can be. When It takes a brave person to jump into the unknown, but
,ZDVDVNHGWREHDÁLJKWFKLHIIRUDÁLJKWRXWVLGHRIP\ pretty soon, you will have a new comfort zone. You will look
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was comfortable with my job in the dental lab. It was easy your new leadership role and see you have become suc-
for me, familiar, and I knew what to expect and how to deal cessful. You will know you have succeeded as you look at
ZLWKWKRVHVXUSULVHGLIÀFXOWLHVWKDWDULVHLQDOOMREV,KDG those around you and the growth they are demonstrating
become too comfortable and had not challenged myself to because of the example you have set for them. Once you
become more diverse. begin to realize that you have succeeded, it will be easier
to step outside of your comfort zone the next time oppor-
Seeking out and accepting a new challenge is what we tunity knocks.
need to do to progress as successful leaders. We must
continually push ourselves to conquer our self-doubt and I challenge you to be brave and step into the unknown,
optimize our productivity. Too much comfort in your life then build your way up and never stop building.

with questions or suggestions

about subjects of concern to the

entire Luke Air Force Base com- Leadership is for the colonel

munity.

I appreciate your feedback.

Your ideas and concerns help by Tech. Sgt.
PHILIP STACEY
build a stronger foundation on ship from the top and management
Detachment 12, 372nd Training Squadron at my level is the recipe for success,
which we can successfully com- right?
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plete our mission and take care DUHWDNLQJRYHUWKHÁLJKWWUDLQLQJSUR- 7KH SRLQW ,·P WU\LQJ WR PDNH
gram because we are undermanned, shrouded in satire is leaders exist at
of our people. Brig. Gen. Scott Pleus and the dart I threw pierced your all levels, and we should be keen to
To receive a response, leave 56th FW commander name. Call the help desk and schedule UHFRJQL]H ZKHQ LW·V RXU WXUQ WR OHDG
an appointment with the wing com- 7KHUH·V DQ DSS WR KHOS XV ZLWK WKLV
your name and telephone num- mander so he can motivate you to not and we can push to the top of the
fail with this responsibility the dart charts — empowerment.
ber. Action Lines of general interest are printed in the chose for you.”
The professional development guide
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P\ WURRS GRWV WKH ´L·Vµ DQG FURVVHV energizes people, and provides re-
way to resolve a problem is to talk directly to the respon- WKH´W·VµSHUWKH$LU)RUFH,QVWUXFWLRQ sponsibility, ownership and control
DQG,·PRQFUXLVHFRQWURO,VQ·WLWHDV\ over the work they perform. This force
sible agency or through your chain of command. being an NCO? makes a worker a stakeholder in an
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The Action Line isn’t just for complaints. Send along ,W·VDJRRGWKLQJZHKDYHJURXSDQG becomes committed and participates
wing commanders to lead us. Their in shaping the execution of the mis-
your kudos when someone provides exceptional service, \HDUVRIH[SHULHQFHKDYHUHÀQHGWKHLU sion. This force created though em-
WHFKQLTXHWRLQÁXHQFHDQGWKH\KDYH powerment is beginning to change an,
goes out of their way to help or deserves a kind word. become masters of the art. And only in “I must do this” task, into an “I want freedom and authority to creatively
their positions of command is where to do this” task. What is this starting accomplish tasks.
PHONE NUMBERS the need for leadership exists. We have to sound like? The illustrious craft of
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Airman and Family Readiness Center ....................... 623-856-6550 statements, our governing AFIs, and lends itself to the opportunity to
Chapel ................................................................... 623-856-6211 RXUGXW\VSHFLÀFSURFHGXUHV/HDGHU- ,QÁXHQFLQJLVDFRUHIXQFWLRQRIOHDG- empower others, and being able to
Child Care Center ...................................................623-856-6339 ership. What better way to energize ÀQG WKRVH RSSRUWXQLWLHV LV RQH UHD-
Community Center ............................................... 623-856-7152 people than to trust them with the VRQWKHDUWRIOHDGHUVKLSLVGLIÀFXOW
Computer IT service desk .................................. DSN 945-2900 Examining the intent of a task or the
Eye Clinic ............................................................. 623-856-7965 responsibility that comes along with
Fitness Center ....................................................... 623-856-6241 it, explaining the intent and estab-
Flight Medicine .................................................... 623-856-2273 OLVKLQJWKHSOD\LQJÀHOGIRUSHRSOHWR
Fraud, waste and abuse hotline ............................ 623-856-6149 succeed all make up the essence. The
Hobby shop .......................................................... 623-856-6722 intent becomes the vision, empower-
+RXVLQJRI¿FH ing allows others to take ownership
Law enforcement desk ......................................... 623-856-5970
Legal assistance .................................................... 623-856-6901 See LEADERSHIP, Page 11
Library .................................................................. 623-856-7191
Marketing ............................................................. 623-856-3245 Luke Editorial Staff 7KH7KXQGHUEROWXVHVPDWHULDOIURPWKH$UPHG)RUFHV,QIRUPDWLRQ6HUYLFH$LU
Military Equal Opportunity ................................. 623-856-7711 )RUFH1HZV6HUYLFH$(7&1HZV6HUYLFHDQGRWKHUVRXUFHV$OODGYHUWLVLQJLVKDQGOHG
Military pay .......................................................... 623-856-7028 Commander.......................................................... Brig. Gen. Scott Pleus E\$HURWHFK1HZVDQG5HYLHZ7KH\FDQEHUHDFKHGE\FDOOLQJ
2I¿FHRI6SHFLDO,QYHVWLJDWLRQ .............................623-856-6821 Public Affairs chief ...................................................... Maj. Matt Hasson
Outdoor Recreation .............................................. 623-856-6267 Public Affairs deputy chief ........................................... Kiley Dougherty 7KH7KXQGHUEROWLVSXEOLVKHGE\$HURWHFK1HZVDQG5HYLHZDSULYDWH¿UPLQQR
Pass and registration ............................................. 623-856-4880 Internal information........................................Tech. Sgt. Timothy Boyer ZD\FRQQHFWHGZLWKWKH86$LU)RUFHXQGHUH[FOXVLYHZULWWHQFRQWUDFWZLWKWKHWK
Patient advocate ................................................... 623-856-8968 Editor ........................................................................... Deborah Leuthold )LJKWHU:LQJ/XNH$LU)RUFH%DVH$UL]7KLVFLYLOLDQHQWHUSULVH$LU)RUFHQHZVSDSHU
Public Affairs ........................................................ 623-856-5853 Designer .................................................................................Tinna Sellie LVDQDXWKRUL]HGSXEOLFDWLRQIRUPHPEHUVRIWKH86PLOLWDU\VHUYLFHV&RQWHQWVRIWKH
Security Forces ..................................................... 623-856-5970 7KXQGHUEROWDUHQRWQHFHVVDULO\WKHRI¿FLDOYLHZVRIRUHQGRUVHGE\WKH86JRYHUQ
Straight Talk Line ................................................. 623-856-7064 Editorial Information PHQWWKH'HSDUWPHQWRI'HIHQVHRUWKH'HSDUWPHQWRIWKH$LU)RUFH
Sexual Assault Prevention/Response .................. 623-856-4878
Vehicle Maintenance ............................................ 623-935-6576 For past issues of the Thunderbolt, go to 7KHDSSHDUDQFHRIDGYHUWLVLQJLQWKLVSXEOLFDWLRQLQFOXGLQJLQVHUWVRUVXSSOHPHQWV
Veterinary services ............................................... 623-856-6354 www.aerotechnews.com/lukeafb/ and click on PDF edition GRHVQRWFRQVWLWXWHHQGRUVHPHQWRIWKHSURGXFWVRUVHUYLFHVDGYHUWLVHGE\WKH'2'
Wellness Center .................................................... 623-856-2273 7KHWK)LJKWHU:LQJ3XEOLF$IIDLUV2I¿FHSUHSDUHVDOOHGLWRULDOFRQWHQWIRUWKH WKH'HSDUWPHQWRIWKH$LU)RUFHRU$HURWHFK1HZVDQG5HYLHZ
Youth Center ......................................................... 623-856-7470 7KXQGHUEROW7KHHGLWRUZLOOHGLWRUUHZULWHPDWHULDOIRUFODULW\EUHYLW\RUWRFRQIRUPZLWK
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