Partnerships propel Air Force forward

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Erwin Gines
  • 60th Inpatient Squadron commander

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. - I value partnerships.  Upon commissioning 23 years ago, my uncle, a retired U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer, told me that good relationships and partnerships will be one of my most important treasures.

He is the kind of person who carried his weight and helped others to do the same. I looked up to him. From my younger eyes, I was just only hoping to do my part well when I arrived at my first duty station - Travis Air Force Base, California. That was 1994.

My uncle was right on the mark. Without partnerships, most worthwhile goals are difficult to reach. I see a partnership as more than each person “doing their part.” The essence of a partnership transcends what the word appears to imply. A characteristic of a true partnership is that each partner has vested interest in the success and strength of themselves and the other. There is a belief of mutual success.

In my view, there are two effects.  The first is obvious. In the immediate term, there is a desire for an achievement of a goal.  I do my part, you do yours and we win or lose as a team.

I believe there is a second, less obvious effect - more success in everything we do in the long run.  If there is genuine desire and effort to promote growth and success of themselves and others, the net effect is quality growth and more success. It is a long-lasting investment.

I perform best when I partner with Airmen.  I am my squadron’s sole commander, but I am not its only leader. I see this daily.  Airmen everywhere lead me and others to understand and make better decisions.

In the medical side of my work, this fact is apparent each time an Airman has improved the care of patients. They innovate better ways to perform detailed treatments and elegant ways to relate with people who are at a most vulnerable moment. It is amazing. 

Partnerships also exist in other military settings. For example, I recently saw a physical training leader working with another Airman who needed help on the PT test. This scene is common. The unique part of what I saw was an unmistakable drive for each to perform better. The Airman shows up every morning with enthusiasm. The PTL, who is not below standards, was improving his own coaching and physical ability.

In fact, I found out later they were both seeking ways to pursue healthier lifestyles. The positive energy from both of them was contagious. In the early term, there is a benefit of attaining fitness goals. I posit that the longer benefit is the strength cemented in each of their respective character.

I have witnessed this numerous times in a variety of situations with any number combinations of rank inversions. My observation is that the best outcomes are when Airmen are partnered. My view of partnership should not be mistaken with an equal distribution of responsibility or the chain of command. The weight is greater on more senior-ranking Airmen to serve with the greatest weight on me.

I believe that the best service and strength is derived when each Airman is served with a genuine drive to bring themselves and the other to a goal and grow stronger. From wherever you stand, teach and learn, lead and follow, invest and be invested in Airmen of all ranks.

Partnering with leaders is vital to me. I have the opportunity to work with leaders in uniform as well as civilian attire and hope to contribute and receive the best that can be offered. In the past, I have worked with leaders who did not partner. At its worst moment, we hardly communicated.  Even a professional argument would have been better. In the end, nothing was accomplished but the minimum. 

On the flip side, I enjoy the counsel and assistance of my superintendent, first sergeant, and fellow commanders, among others. I know that I am growing on a daily basis. It is a superb positive feedback loop.

 Our partnership with the Veterans Affairs is ambitious and worth it. As a young lieutenant in 1994, I learned a great deal from VA nurses and patients who directly impacted my own craft as well as improved my casualty care performance in the deployed in the years that followed.

Returning back to Travis AFB, the partnership with the VA is rich and beneficial again. VA professionals add a breadth and depth of expertise as well as an added perspective. It is already fascinating to hear of some of their employee development programs and the kind of leadership they bring to the Airmen.  Having the VA as one of our partners is exciting. If the past is an indicator of the future, partnering with them again is the right direction.

My greatest partner is my wife. She, too, is active duty and service life is hard. She keeps me on a balanced, eyes-wide-open vector. With her, there is so much I can see now that I never saw before. I take that strength with me when I am on duty. I only hope that I am doing enough to do the same.

When my uncle gave me his advice over two decades ago, I did not fully realize his wisdom.  Today doing “my part” is far more than ensuring that I lift my load.  I seek ways to help other lift their own and succeed together.  It is truly a treasure to have great relationships and a priceless one if you have a great partnership.