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Show 10 Htiftop eadiness inspections iej ccdvu (xdltpchcroIH H c'Ltk o cp us be ready help by Gen. Lester Lyies Corrmin-Jc-A t Fo'ce t.'a'c-rr e Cor"rand AH!. Ohio (Ar WKK.HT I'AI'IKks( those of usaffi'i-a- t II. Sept. d with Asr Force Materiel Command have been rethinking the way we do buMiu-s- during war. The terrorist attack on our own soil have proven that we must be quallv ready to protect our personnel ati'l mission capability at hom- wlnie participating in an armed conflict abroad. II we had to boil these lesson learned down into one unifying idea, it was simply stated by our commander in t hief when he s - addressed Congress and the nation con- cerning the events of Sept. 11. President Hush had but two words for us in that historic address: "He Ready." Being ready is what readiness inspections are all about. Readiness lias always been and always will be the hallmark of the Air Force. Secretary of the Air Force James Roche recently said, "The Air Force is a very fascinating institution. It was born in war Most of its life has been in war." During the cold War. our readiness found a home in dozens of foreign airfields, alert facilities and missile silos across the country we won. Since the Cold we were ready-an- d War, we've develojxd an exjx'ditionary approach to be ready for challenges across the globe. Now we face the challenge of being ready to combat enemies foreign or domestic; in other lands and. for the first time in a long while, in our own backyard. The need for constant readiness is clear, and the inspection process ensures that we are prepared. Operational Readiness Inspections are but one of many types of inspections commanders have at their disposal to obtain an independent assessment of unit readiness. An ORI and -- the inspection process helps commanders plishing the assigned mission. Inspections make sure that training and equipping are sufficient to get the job done; they ensure benchmark ideas and processes are passed on to other units; they help correct pol- - Janitor's lesson from page i -- inspections are g critk.il to readiniain-tainin- ness. The inspec- l tion, however, isn't what you and your unit prepare for. The ORI isn't the end game. Your readiness Gen. Lester L. r W I'M 4 esa ZZ Lyles to perform your mission is! Many of you may question why we continue with insertions while we're stretched so thin and our country is at war. The answer is obvious. Military readiness is clearly of the highest Thereimportance to your commander-in-chief- . fore, we must make sure readiness remains foremost in our minds and in our daily lives. The inspection process has and will adapt to actual conditions and situations. Within AFMC. we've performed assessment of force protection, deployment processing and exchangeable surge at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., and have given them credit for those portions of the ORI that was scheduled for this past October. Meanwhile, at Tinker AFB, Okla., we've completed a force protection assessment and given the base credit for that portion of an ORI. The Tinker evaluation will continue with assessments and conclude with a limited ORI. The AFMC inspector general will seek every events as they opportunity to assess occur and structure additional evaluations to minimize the impact on the units while maintaining the ability to ensure the highest state of readiness. Now, more than ever, the inspection process must continue. Our orders are real-worl- d real-worl- d real-worl- clear-"- Be d d Ready." your people short, for any one of them may be the hero who rises to the occasion when duty calls. On the other hand, it's easy to turn to your proven performers when the chips are down, but don't ignore the rest of the team. Today's rookie could and should be tomorrow's super- emphasizes humility, excellence M and correct deficiencies. The fact is independent real-worl- make sure their personnel are capable of accom- T ky and instruction: and they help identify star. .V Mr. Crawford continued to work at the Academy and eventually retired in his native Colorado where he resides today, one of four Medal of Honor winners living in a small town. A wise ixtsoi) once said, "It's not life that's iniX)r-tan- t, but those you meet along the way that make the difference." Bill was one who made a difference for me. While I haven't seen Mr. Crawford in over twenty years, he'd probably be surprised to know I think of him often. Bill Crawford, our janitor, taught me many valuable, unforgettable leadership lessons. Here at e ten I'd like to share with you. Be Cautious of Libels I Ethels you place on xople may define your rela- tionship to them and bound their potential. Sadly, and for along time, we labeled Bill as just a janitor, but he was so much more. Therefore, be cautious of a leader who callously says, "Hey, he's just aii airman." Likewise, don't tolerate the 0-, who says, "I can't do that, I'm just a lieutenant." 1 Everyone Deserves Respect Because we hung the "janitor" label on Mr. Crawford, we often wrongly treated him with less respect than others around us. He deserved much more, and not just because he was a Medal of Honor winner. Bill deserved respect because he was a janitor, walked among us, and was a part of our team. Courtesy Makes a Difference Be courteous to all around you, regardless of rank or position. Military customs, as well as common courtesies, help bond a team. When our daily Mr. Crawford turned from perfunctory "hellos" to heartfelt greetings, his demeanor and personality outwardly changed. It made a difference for all of us. words to Take Time to Know Your People the military is hectic, but that's no excuse for not knowing the people you work for and with. For years a hero walked among us at the Academy and we never knew it. Who are the heroes that walk in your midst? Anyone Can Be a Hero Mr. Crawford certainly didn't fit anyone's standard definition of a hero. Moreover, he was just a private on the day he won his medal. Don't sell Life in 3 Leaders Should Be Humble Most modern day heroes and some leaders are anything but humble, especially if you calibrate your "hero meter" on today's athletic fields. End zone celebrations and are what we've come to expect from sports greats. Not Mr. Crawford he was too busy working to celebrate his past heroics. Leaders would be well served to do the same. Life Won't Always Hand You What You Think You Deserve We in the military work hard and, dang it, we deserve recognition, right? However, sometimes you just have to persevere, even when accolades don't come your way. Perhaps you weren't nominated for junior officer or airman of the quarter let that stop you. as you thought you should-don- 't MkUHMI Don't pursue glory; pursue excellence Private Bill Crawford didn't pursue glory; he did his duty and then swept floors for a living. No job is beneath a leader. If Bill Crawford, a Medal of Honor winner, could clean latrines and smile, is there a job beneath your dignity? Think about it. Pursue Excellence No matter what task life hands you, do it well. Dr. Martin Luther King said, "If life makes you a street sweeper, be the best street sweeper you can be." Mr. Crawford modeled that philosophy and helped make our dormitory area a home. Life is a Leadership Laboratory mm too often we look to some school or PME class to teach us about leadership when, in fact, life is a leadership laboratory. Those you meet everyday will teach you enduring lessons if you just take time to stop, look and listen. I spentfour years at the Air Force Academy, took dozens of classes, read hundreds of books, and met thousands of great people. I gleaned leadership skills from all of them, but one of the people I remember most is Mr. Bill Crawford and the lessons he unknowingly taught. Don't miss your opportunity to learn. Bill Crawford was a janitor. However, he was also a teacher, friend, role model and one great American hero. Thanks, Mr. Crawford, for some valuable leadership lessons. All yow litre Sh Hilltop Times? Then support Hilltop advertisers - they make your newspaper possible! i! ' : ' E |