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26 Jun 2018
Education to Operation: Leading through change
Transitioning to a new unit, role or leadership position can be daunting.
19 Jun 2018
Thank you
As I wrap up my command of the 621st Contingency Response Wing on June 21, I would like to take an opportunity to express my gratitude; and there’s a lot of it to go around!
18 Jun 2018
Pursue your goals now
Every month, we have a newcomers brief in the squadron. During every brief, the commander and I spend some time introducing ourselves. It’s pretty basic-where we grew up, previous assignments, family and so on. We always finish up with goals.
18 Jun 2018
This is our Air Force
I would like to start off simply and say, “Thank you.” Upon arriving at Travis Air Force Base, California, I didn’t know what to expect. I was an old C-130J Super Hercules pilot hired to command the best C-17 Globemaster III maintenance squadron in the Air Force and boy did I feel out of place.
12 Jun 2018
The power of influence
The power of influence can and will have rippling effects within an organization. We have all worked for great leaders with the power of influence and they tend to stick out when thinking about who we want to emulate. John Maxwell stated, "Leadership is not about titles, positions or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another."
12 Jun 2018
Non-correlation in metrics can actually mean something
For almost three years now, our squadron has been working on our processes and how to track how well our processes work. Better known as metrics. One process I determined was vital for our mobility shop arose from the nature of how we deploy in the 6th and 9th Air Refueling Squadrons.
5 Jun 2018
Rock star’s lesson one to absorb for career, life
Michael Stipe seems like an unlikely source for life and career advice. Stipe was the lead singer of the great, defunct American rock band R.E.M. You’ve probably heard their music in hit songs such as “Losing My Religion,” “Everybody Hurts,” “Man on the Moon,” “It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)” and many more.
5 Jun 2018
Unbowed, unbent, unbroken
Full spectrum readiness has been a priority among our Air Force leaders and has translated into countless exercises, numerous training hours in mission-oriented protective posture gear, and realistic scenarios to ensure we are able to respond to any threat anywhere in the world. But what does this really mean if we personally are not at our best? While it is extremely important to be proficient in those skills, if we are not mentally strong and ready, we will never reach the level of readiness we need to be at.
4 Jun 2018
“That’s just the way we do it” is not a good answer
I’ve been lucky in my career so far to instruct on three different aircraft and serve in the contingency response world. I started off flying C-21As (LearJets) doing distinguished visitor travel, then transitioned to the C-130 E/H doing airland and airdrop missions. I’ve also flown on air-refueling missions. As I transitioned into the C-130 and KC-135, I asked many questions on why the techniques and procedures were a certain way.
30 May 2018
Taking opportunities
Earlier this year, my supervisor asked me, “Hey Carnell, would you mind going to Honor Guard training starting Monday?” My first thoughts were that something must have changed with my wingman’s schedule in our shop. We both intended doing Honor Guard and our leadership chose him to go first. As I had planned on going second, I was not looking forward to the sudden schedule change. My response to my supervisor was, “Yes, ma’am.”