March Madness teaches us teamwork

  • Published
  • By Col. Jeanne Meyer
  • Staff Judge Advocate
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Although the final game is April 8, we are in the midst of March Madness, the annual NCAA Division I basketball tournament.

I love to follow the tournament to watch my alma mater attempt to make it to the championship game. Beyond that, watching March Madness provides good lessons applicable to much of what we do and face in the Air Force today.

The most obvious similarity is the concept of teamwork. While many college basketball teams have individual stars, the bottom line is that the team won't win unless all the starters, substitutes and coaches work together. Coaches set out the plan; the team executes. We do the same in the Air Force every day - commanders set the mission. We execute the mission.

At the same time that we work as a team, each individual in the Air Force also has a responsibility to improve themselves, whether through education, upgrade training, stepping up to leadership positions or simply challenging themselves to be the best at their particular job. If each player on a team continually improves, the team will improve.

March Madness also requires adaptability in the face of challenge. One injury to a key player can force a team to completely rework its game strategy. Often, however, such a challenge creates an opportunity for another player to shine or contribute in a new way.

Right now, the Air Force is facing significant challenges as we navigate fiscal cuts, mission changes, and being asked to do more with less. More than ever, Airmen are stepping up to meet these challenges and treat them as opportunities to excel rather than obstacles that cannot be overcome. This can-do attitude is what carries Cinderella teams forward in the tournament.

How do we translate what we see on the basketball court to what we do every day? As mentioned, the most important element is attitude - if you believe you can succeed, chances are that you will succeed. You may not reach your ultimate goal on the first try, but what you learn along the way will make it more likely you'll get there on a subsequent try.

Own what you do. Each of us has to work individually to make the team better. Know your job better than anyone else and aim to execute it to perfection. When you make a mistake, recognize it, fix it and move on. If you are trying hard, the occasional foul is expected.

Finally, as Sir Winston Churchill urged, "Never give in--never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small."

He also famously exhorted on posters printed during World War II, "Deserve victory."

Ask yourself what you have done today to improve yourself and your Air Force. Just as 30 extra minutes of practice may be the difference between winning and losing a game during March Madness, 30 extra minutes of working on a project may be the difference between an aircraft taking off on time and not taking off at all. Deserve victory.