Page 2 - Edwards AFB Desert Wings 9-25-15

Desert Wings Commentary September 25, 2015

2 www.aerotechnews.com/edwardsafb facebook.com/EdwardsDesertWings

7HFKQRORJ\FKDOOHQJHV$LUPHQWRLPSURYH

by Maj. Shane Wehunt It is a known that there is a human need to feel needed. It is 0RGHUQGD\DLUFUDIWVWDUWLQJZLWKWKH&*OREHPDVWHU,,,
7UDYLV$)%&DOLI DOVRWUXHWKDWHDFK$LUPHQQHHGVWRIHHOWKDWZKDWWKH\EULQJ WKURXJKWKH)5DSWRUDQG)/LJKWQLQJ,,DUHFKDOOHQJLQJ
WRWKH¿JKWLVHVVHQWLDOWRWKHPLVVLRQDQGWKDWZLWKRXWWKHLU WKDWUHODWLRQVKLSDQGWKH.&3HJDVXVZLOOEHQRH[FHSWLRQ
$GYDQFHVLQWHFKQRORJ\KDYHGULYHQRXUPLOLWDU\FDSDELOLW\
WRXQSUHFHGHQWHGOHYHOVGXULQJWKHSDVWWKUHHGHFDGHV direct involvement, the mission would be less effective and These aircraft, in stark contrast to their predecessors, are in-
FUHGLEO\UHOLDEOHDQGDUHGHVLJQHGWRDXWRPDWHPDQ\RIWKH
/HDGHUVFDQQRZFRPPXQLFDWHWKHLUPHVVDJHWRWKHIRUFH thus less successful.
IDVWHUDQGPRUHFOHDUO\WKDQHYHUEHIRUHDQGWKDWPHVVDJHFDQ tasks that a maintainer relied upon to build that relationship.
In aircraft maintenance, the maintainer’s need to feel needed $GGLWLRQDOO\WHFKQRORJ\KDVDOORZHGFRPSXWHUVWRLGHQ-
be sent directly to each Airman across the entire service. Tech- KDVEHHQFKDOOHQJHGE\WHFKQRORJ\PRUHDQGPRUHWKURXJK-
QRORJLFDODGYDQFHPHQWVKDYHHQDEOHGWKH0RELOLW\$LU)RUFHV tify maintenance issues instantaneously and, in some cases,
out the years. As the demand for more reliable aircraft is lev- WKHDLUFUDIWFDQWKURXJKDGDWDOLQNRUGHUWKHSDUWVUHTXLUHG
and Combat Air Forces to execute their missions safer, faster LHGXSRQDLUFUDIWPDQXIDFWXUHUVWKHLQWDQJLEOHLPSDFWRQWKH WR¿[LWVHOIEHIRUHWKHPDLQWDLQHUFDQHYHQVHHWKHDLUFUDIW
DQGZLWKJUHDWHUSUHFLVLRQHIIHFWLYHQHVVDQGHI¿FLHQF\WKDQ RQDSSURDFKIRUODQGLQJ7KHGHVLJQRIPRGHUQDLUFUDIWKDV
maintainer has been in the relationship maintainers build with PDGHWKHZRUNFRQVLGHUDEO\OHVVFKDOOHQJLQJDQGWHFKQRORJ\
at any time in history. KDVUHSODFHGPXFKRUWKHWURXEOHVKRRWLQJVNLOOVUHTXLUHGLQ
+RZHYHUWKLVDGYDQFHPHQWLQWHFKQRORJ\KDVJHQHUDWHG their aircraft. Maintainers of the past had to know their aircraft JHQHUDWLRQVSDVW'RQ¶WPLVXQGHUVWDQG7KHVHDGYDQFHPHQWV
DUHH[DFWO\ZKDWKDYHPDGHXVVDIHUIDVWHUDQGPRUHHI¿FLHQW
a litany of new concerns for us as Airmen to consider. Each inside and out. They needed to know each system exception-
+RZHYHUDVDUHVXOWPDLQWHQDQFHOHDGHUVKLSDFURVVRXU$LU
functional area across our Air Force can list hundreds of new ally well and they needed to know the personality of their )RUFHPXVWHPEUDFHWKHVHLQWDQJLEOHFKDOOHQJHVDQGIDFLOLWDWHD
FKDOOHQJHVWKDWDUHGHULYHGDVDUHVXOWRIWKLVWHFKQRORJLFDO DLUFUDIWWKURXJKLWVKLVWRU\
SDUDGLJPVKLIW6RPHRIWKHVHFKDOOHQJHVDUHLQWHUQDOO\GULYHQ relationship between their Airmen maintainers and the mission
DQGUHTXLUHDIUHVKZD\RIWKLQNLQJLQRUGHUWRHIIHFWLYHO\DG- $LUFUDIWRI:RUOG:DU,,9LHWQDP.RUHDDQGLQWR'HVHUW

dress each of them. Solutions less technical and more cerebral Shield/Storm were temperamental and had individual person-
DOLWLHVPXFKPRUHWKDQPRGHUQDLUFUDIWEHLQJPDLQWDLQHGE\

today’s Airmen. As a result, the aircraft mechanics of the past
EXLOWDVWURQJUHODWLRQVKLSZLWKWKHLUDLUFUDIWDQGIHOWDEVROXWHO\

are essential in these cases. vital to daily mission execution. itself rather than the aircraft they maintain.
+XPEOHOHDGHUVKLSDGYDQFHVWHDPDKHDGRIVHOI

by Chief Master Sgt. Jacob P.E. Dunbar ways about what we like to do, but it is RIWHDPIDLOXUHDUHJUHDWHUWKDQ\RXULQGL- LQJEDGEHKDYLRUWKH\FKRRVHWRFRS\ZKDW
+XUOEXUW)LHOG)OD vidual desires. Yes, the person’s behavior you do.
about what needs to be done. Sometimes we and skills may not be up to par, but you
There are instances in life that demand we MXVWKDYHWRVXFNLWXSDQGJRDFFRPSOLVK QHHGWRJHWWKHPWKHUH:KHQWKHUHLVDQRE- Compromise personal ideas
subdue our pride to ensure the overall ad- WKHWDVN,QWKHWLPH\RXWDNHFRPSODLQLQJ vious failure in leadership, the entire team for the good of the team
vancement of the team or institution. These DQG¿JXULQJRXWKRZQRWWRGRWKHMRE\RX KDVWRZRUNKDUGHUWR¿OOWKHYRLGDQGNHHS
VLWXDWLRQVUHTXLUHKXPEOHOHDGHUVKLS SURJUHVVLQJ Most of us have deep-rooted views of
could already be done. how work should be done and how people
+DUQHVVLQJLPSXOVHVDQGUHDFWLRQVZLOO Remain professional when should act in various situations. Your per-
UHTXLUHPXFKUHVWUDLQWVWUHQJWKDQGGLVFL- Focus on the team’s goals and purpose someone is disrespectful spectives can set back the team, if you allow
SOLQHWRSXOOLWRIIEXWGRLQJVRLVLPSRUWDQW LW,QVWHDGRIPRYLQJDORQJ\RXJHWKXQJXS
when working for someone who gets on 7KH ILUVW WKRXJKW FRXOG EH WR UHWDOLDWH RQYHUELDJH+RZ\RXVHHWKLQJVWKURXJK
Airmen demonstrate humble leadership but often that makes the situation worse. your lenses can be drastically different from
in many ways, but here are four examples: your nerves or you think is incompetent .HHSDGYDQFLQJEHFDXVHHYHU\WLPH\RX others, but that does not mean any of the
7KRXJK\RXFDQ¶WKHOSWRQRWLFHWKHLQGL- JHWVLGHWUDFNHGE\SHWW\PDWWHUV\RXORVH ideas are bad. It is more about what is best
Doing something you YLGXDO¶VÀDZV\RXPXVWNHHS\RXUH\HVRQ IRFXVDQGVWRSWKHPRPHQWXP%\WUHDWLQJ IRUWKHWHDP(YHQWKRXJK\RXWKLQN\RXU
don’t like or feel is degrading ELJJHUWKLQJV+HOSLQJVXFKDSHUVRQZLOO people professionally you set an example. WKRXJKWVDUHPRUHSURIRXQGDQGEHQH¿FLDO
7KLVWDNHVDORWRIKHDUW$OWKRXJK\RXU It often reduces tension and incites them to
LQFOLQDWLRQLVWHOOLQJ\RX³GRQ¶W´\RXKDYH be hard especially when they are stubborn, FKDQJHWKHLUDSSURDFK,QVWHDGRIFRQWLQX- See LEADERSHIP, Page 4
WR¿QGDOOWKHUHDVRQVWR³GR´,WLVQRWDO- EXW\RXFDQ¶WJLYHXS,IWKH\IDLOWKHHQWLUH
WHDPFRXOGIDLO7R¿OOWKHJDSRILQFRPSH-

tence and lack of credibility, everyone else
KDVWRSLFNXSWKHLUJDPH7KHUDPL¿FDWLRQV

Commander’s

Action Line

email: speak2cc@edwards.af.mil

The Commander’s Action Line gives all Airmen, re-
tirees, families and community members a direct link to
Brig. Gen. Carl Schaefer, 412th Test Wing commander.
The Action Line can be used to express constructive
points of view on the policies and procedures of the
base; discuss safety and security issues; and address
problems, concerns, or suggestions after traditional
methods have been exhausted.

The Commander’s Action Line should not be the
¿UVWDFWLRQWDNHQWRUHVROYHDQLVVXH7KRVHVHHNLQJ
DUHPHG\WRDSUREOHPVKRXOG¿UVWIROORZWKHFKDLQ
RIFRPPDQGDQGWDNHXSWKHPDWWHUZLWKWKHRI¿FHRI
SULPDU\UHVSRQVLELOLW\VXSHUYLVRUV¿UVWVHUJHDQWVRU
commanders.

Action Line queries may be submitted by sending an
e-mail to speak2cc@edwards.af.mil with Commander’s
Action Line as the subject heading or by calling (661)
277-7325. Action Line submissions must be written in
a courteous and professional tone, and must include a
name, an e-mail address or an alternative method of
contact. The requestor’s contact information will not be
published in compliance with Privacy Act restrictions.
Any messages received without contact information will
not be routed, so please be sure to provide some method
for communication.