Ideas can make a difference

  • Published
  • By Col. Steve Arquiette
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Last week Travis celebrated its 65th anniversary. When you compare the early photographs of what was then Fairfield-Suisun Army Air Base with what exists today, it's truly amazing the transformation that has occurred here in the past 65 years!

What I find even more amazing is how what began as an idea among early planners evolved as others added their ideas to it. The missions changed as ideas of airpower changed, ways to accomplish that mission evolved as new ideas of working challenged old methods, aircraft changed as jet-powered aircraft gained acceptance. Looking at Travis through a time-lapse movie one would clearly see changes in uniforms, cars, aircraft and buildings rapidly coming and going, matching the ideas that generated each change.

I could go on, but I think my point is clear: Ideas drive change. And what was true 65 years ago remains just as true today, perhaps even more so given the demands placed upon us as we work hard to balance deployments, family concerns, and the likelihood of fewer resources to accomplish our mission. 

We all have ideas about the military, about the Air Force, about our ability to contribute as members of Team Travis, either on or off the job. Our ability to work in such a complex environment is only limited by our ability to understand the issues we face and our willingness to wrestle with them and to propose solutions. Consider just a few that we face today: a highly dynamic ops tempo driven by the Global War on Terrorism, a 101 percent increase in crude oil price this year alone; the continued downsizing of Air Force personnel from PBD 720, increasing personal healthcare and support costs; and an aging fleet of aircraft. These are big issues, and they affect each of us. 

During the darkest days of World War II, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill remarked to his cabinet: "We are out of money. Now we must truly think!" Fortunately for us it isn't that bad. Still, today's Air Force leaders encourage new ideas and actively seek them. I mentioned Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century in a previous commentary. Community partnerships provide another method of sharing information and ideas. Our Quality of Life at Travis is certainly better in part because of the relationships and ideas that came from sharing ideas and concerns with the Travis Regional Armed Forces Committee, and the other community groups that share our concerns with the environment and development. 

This week I attended a five-day course at the Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro, N.C. with 25 fellow Air Force wing commanders and civilian equivalents. The fact that everyone has different preferences in how they interact, think and present their ideas highlighted the importance of positive communications from our newest Airmen through our most senior members on base. Our front-line supervisors play a key role in ensuring ideas flow smoothly both up and down the chain of command. 

In this dynamic arena, ideas are golden. However, your ideas can only have an impact if you share them with others on your functional team or those in your work place. Through stories, examples, demonstrations, regardless of how you share them, your ideas and suggestions truly can make a difference for those who serve here today and tomorrow just as the ideas of those Airmen who served at Fairfield-Suisun Army Air Base 65 years ago have made a difference for us. Yes, your ideas matter. Just give them a chance.