Being prepared helps eliminate Murphy's Law

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Andrew Wallace
  • 22nd Airlift Squadron commander
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  In today's demanding global environment, our nation depends on us to be ready to respond and execute our mission at a moment's notice.

As Airmen, we recognize the importance of being organized and understand it could mean the difference between success and failure. As we face a spectrum of diverse and unconventional threats, we need to ensure our organization skills are honed for success.

Superior organization skills, at every level, are critical to rapid mission execution and serve to reduce stress in our daily life. These skills help us optimize our time, resources and assets both on, and off duty.

In the end, a well-organized unit or military family is poised for success regardless of the challenge it may face in the future.

Workplace disorganization directly affects mission accomplishment and its impact can generate significant obstacles. Some effects include Airmen deploying downrange without the right equipment or training, documents lost in "electronic landfills," and critical deadlines missed -- effects that put each of us at risk.

We all need to do our part in eliminating these symptoms. We must take time to organize file plans, update continuity binders, develop strong contingency plans, run self-inspection checklists and execute AFSO 21 "Lean" thinking.

Our homes can be a hotbed of chaos and it can cost us time and money. As Airmen, we experience first-hand the importance of keeping critical documents like passports, birth certificates, adoption papers and marriage certificates safely stored, and easily accessible. This is especially true during an extended TDY or PCS.

By periodically reviewing documents such as wills and insurance policies to ensure they are current, we can alleviate the burden of having to search for or update these in the midst of a stressful situation.

Being organized at home also means ensuring our finances are in order. Leave, extended TDYs, and PCS moves often result in additional expenses. Having a financial plan, keeping accurate records and setting aside some emergency funds will help prepare for both planned, and unplanned expenses. Whether a flight cancels, a car needs an emergency repair or a wallet is stolen, these efforts will inevitably pay dividends when most needed.

Edmund Burke said, "Good order is the foundation of all things." Set a solid foundation professionally and personally by getting organized. It takes effort and perseverance, but in the end, it will save time, improve efficiency and enable rapid mission execution.