SNCOs, NCOs help mold a team

  • Published
  • By Chief Master Sgt. Michael Williams
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing command chief
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  It's Friday, Friday, Friday and I'm ready to watch the final four teams compete for the National Collegiate Athletic Association men's championship! Did your team make it to the final four? For the first time in NCAA history all four number one seeded teams made it to the final four.

Imagine, at the beginning of the basketball season, teams all over the country began preparing for their road to the final four tournament. It took a total team effort for the North Carolina Tar heels, Kansas Jay hawks, UCLA Bruins and Memphis Tigers to achieve their goal of reaching the final four tournament and one will soon emerge as the national champion.

Every game, coaches and players depended upon one another for their individual contributions, leadership and support. When one teammate had an off game or was out with an injury, another player stepped up their game to fill the void and also provide encouragement to his struggling or absent teammate. Much like we do here at Team Travis. However, there's an area our team can improve upon - filling the void when a team mate is absent.

In today's challenging environment, our Airmen lack leadership when their immediate supervisor is deployed, on leave, TDY etc. Our operations tempo is extremely high, and we have Airmen deployed all over the globe and there's no end in sight to the Global War on Terror. As a result of our high ops temp, there are occasions when an Airman doesn't see or communicate with his or her immediate supervisor for months. However, the supervisor's absence shouldn't stifle our Airman's development and growth.

Other NCOs are responsible for coaching, developing, mentoring and teaching Airman during the absence of an immediate supervisor ... stepping in to fill the void. As NCOs we're responsible for all Airmen, not just those we directly supervise. Developing, mentoring, and preparing our Airmen to become future leaders and supervisors is an inherent responsibility. We have a very diverse team of talented men and women here at Travis. Collectively, we must convey to our Airman that we need their enthusiasm, energy and technological expertise focused on the mission every day. Instill in them that being a good follower is a prerequisite to becoming a good leader. Be proud of what they do and the contributions they're making to keep our nation free. Our team depends on our NCOs to shape our Airmen and to give them the tools and training they need. We need our NCOs to get back to the basics of face-to-face leadership. Notice I said, "Our team depends on our NCOs to shape our Airmen ...," and not, "... our front-line supervisors ...." 

Our NCOs and SNCOs must make a commitment to our Airmen and mentor those who will benefit from their training and experience ... our Airmen need NCOs and SNCOs more today than ever before. Martin Luther King Jr., once said, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: What are you doing for others?" My question to our NCOs and SNCOs is "What are you doing for the Airmen on your team?" As always have a great weekend, be safe, make responsible choices and I'll see you around campus!