Air Force skills help make a difference Published March 24, 2009 By Senior Master Sgt. Michael Elson 6th Airlift Squadron McGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. -- Although it's still early in the year, there have been numerous leadership challenges around base. Some of our challenges have been readiness exercises and others are real-world requirements. It is not coincidental that our exercises are filled with tremendous effort and confusion. This is the nature of our expeditionary mission. Our missions do not afford the opportunity to take a day off, and our exercises are built to mimic the same demands. Our customers are often in direct contact with an unjust enemy who would exploit any weakness in their armor. In our past few exercises, we have demonstrated a commitment to our expeditionary mission. I have great respect for teams of Airmen, officers and enlisted, who sometimes work all night to ensure commanders have the knowledge and determination to persevere in times of difficulty. There are many great films and miniseries that highlight the attributes and complex formula required to form a truly great team on the field or in battle. We can watch "Twelve O'clock High," "Band of Brothers" and "We Were Soldiers" to draw parallels between the training iterations depicted by Hollywood and our own Air Force doctrine. At the end of the day and through exercises, we will have learned some valuable lessons. We will, no doubt, better understand our own capabilities. There is tremendous value in going through tough times alongside your teammates. In the end, we all want to act decisively in times of need. Core competencies like self-aid buddy care dovetail into everyday life and give us the opportunity to act decisively. Looking back over a career spanning 20 years, I know that I have used skills in the community that I have gained in the Air Force. From floods to traffic accidents, the skills gained in our exercises and mission will not fail us or the community. I see often how these skills have been used to make a difference in missions we are executing every day. The teamwork I've described helps bring into focus the distinctive capabilities of the wing. After graduating from some of these exercises, deploying and executing our mission every day, our replacements emerge to take on greater roles and responsibility. It is a great honor to watch the next generations of leaders grow and succeed.