Working as team makes mission Published Aug. 23, 2013 By Lt. Col. Thad Middleton 9th Air Refueling Squadron commander TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., -- In a 79-second address to his football team, coach Bo Schembechler delivered one of the most well-known motivational speeches ever given. It was simply about the team. He warned against individualism and the tendency for members of a team to think of themselves rather than to think of and work as a team. His powerful message can be applied just as easily to us as Airmen as we progress through our careers and steadily gain greater responsibility as supervisors and commanders. It is important we remember no one person is more important than the team. As Airmen, members of the military, we are all part of something larger than ourselves, individuals brought together to execute a mission, proudly serving our nation. We are a team. We, as Airmen at Travis, are part of a team and this is evident every day as we all move the mission. Whether a flight, squadron, group or a wing, we are part of a team that relies on support from various people and organizations to assist us in obtaining our personal goals or accomplishing operational missions. Success is never achieved alone and those who believe it is have never achieved success. Yet, sometimes, it is not easy for us to recognize the roles others play in helping us achieve our goals or guarantee our successes. As leaders, we may not be fully aware of those within our units who need a little extra encouragement to take one more step in their development. That is why, as individuals, commanders and units, we need to pause periodically, evaluate our position, identify those teammates who are supporting us, those we could support more and those who we may need more support from in order to achieve our goals. It is not the time to point fingers at teammates. It is not the time to air personal grievances about individuals. But it is time to bring the team together and develop a plan to fix any issues which truly exist. If we believe we can achieve success as a team, we will achieve success as a team. Our team isn't just at work, it also is at home. We are part of a family or a network of friends that directly affects our ability to succeed. They are the quiet, less recognized team. These sometimes less-heralded members are the ones who keep dinner warm when you are working late, run the kids to school or practice when you are on temporary duty or deployed. They are the ones who text you "good morning" or "good night." They are the teammates who are thousands of miles away, but still post a note on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram to letyou know they are thinking of you. This is the team that seldom receives the recognition they truly deserve, but gives more than we will ever be able to repay. We cannot discount this support, because these teammates provide us the stability-the foundation-for when we build our personal and professional success. This home team is just as vital as the one you see daily in the unit or on the flightline. After raising our right hand or accepting our positions, we became part of something larger than ourselves, we became members of the finest Air Force in the world, each one of us contributing to the team in our own way. It is imperative we remember and remind each other that every action, either positive or negative, impacts the team. After one enlistment or 20 years, our time on this team will be over. We will never have this camaraderie or teamwork again, though some on the outside may try to duplicate it, it just won't be the same. We need cherish this time and make the most of our opportunity to impact those around us and the positively impact the mission. In the end, we must always remember it isn't about us. It is about "the team, the team, the team."