Vision, communication vital to AF future

  • Published
  • By Col. Dwight Sones
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Commander
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  On Aug. 6, Lt. Gen. Darren McDew assumed command of the 18th Air Force and shared his "expectations for leaders."

I'd like to take a moment and share a few of these expectations with you, and how we here at Travis execute them.

Following McDew's lead, I'll start my commentary with "thank you." Thank you for the outstanding work you do each and every day. You are the Air Force's most valuable resource and it is reflected in the many accolades I receive praising your hard work, your dedication, and your excellent service. You truly embody our core value of "excellence in all we do." You make Travis "America's first choice."

McDew places a high priority on both vision and communication. I'd like to echo his priorities, and reiterate the importance of face-to-face communication. No email or text message can replace the clarity and personal touch that face-to-face communication brings. Actually speaking with someone makes for better communication and prevents misunderstanding. This saves precious time and energy that would otherwise be spent clarifying and correcting our message.

More importantly, face-to-face communication reminds us that we are leaders of people, not managers of email. I heartily agree with Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy when he reminded us last July that the intended purpose of technological devices is to "augment and add value to our real-life relationships" not replace them. Today's world is technologically advanced and we have easy and immediate access to information. But we must realize that information is not necessarily communication. A smartphone or a computer cannot replicate the human connection that face-to-face communication brings. We, as leaders, must ensure that we are connecting with the Airmen we lead. We must ensure we communicate clearly and accurately understand the concerns and issues of the people we lead and work with. I encourage us all to take a step back and reassess how we might better communicate and connect with each other. Our mission is too important not to.

One of my personal priorities is to inspire top-notch performance. Top performance does not happen by accident. Leaders at all levels need to lead by example and inspire Airmen to achieve excellence. "Excellence in all we do" is an Air Force core value, but without a measure of excellence it is just a nice catch phrase. This falls in line with McDew's emphasis on fitness. Being physically fit as an organization and as an individual has a synergistic effect when it comes to mission readiness and well-being.

The Air Force has certainly quantified the measure of excellence as it pertains to fitness. We must get fit and stay fit. Top-notch performance in this area forges energy, vitality and resiliency. These factors reap dividends in all other areas of life. In short, I've never met anyone who has worked to achieve excellent physical fitness....and regretted it. Lead by example and inspire others to also achieve top-notch performance in physical fitness.

The last part I want to highlight is McDew's expectation for innovation. I truly believe that Travis has some of the most innovative Airmen the Air Force has to offer. Our Travis-grown Digital Air Wing Initiative immediately comes to mind. I'm incredibly proud of the innovation Travis Airmen have shown thus far and look forward to seeing more fresh ideas.

I will end this message the same way I started it, by saying "thank you." Words can't convey my gratitude for each and every one of our Travis team members. I am humbled by the opportunity to lead you and I am proud that together, we make Travis "America's first choice."