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Show 0 HJlijpTimcj October 10, 2002 Commentary m .... mmtmimmk i m flmiil contributions vital Ail to mission success by Lt Col. Jack Davidson 14th Flying Training Wing COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. (AFPN) - In the past year we have seen America endure the disbelief, grief, anger, resolve and steps toward restitution. So what do we do now? The answer will appear in our actions that affect the future. America has grown tremendously in the past 12 months a testament to our people, our commitment and our nation. We have a renewed sense of patriotism and a fire to deal justice to those who have wronged our brethren. In his State of the Union address Jan. 29, Pres ident George W. Bush stated, "We want to be a nation that serves goals larger than self We have a unique opportunity, and we must not let this moment pass. Our contribution may seem small to the war on terrorism, but each and every one of us is vital to the success of the United States. What can we do? One answer lies in achieving a sense of purpose and mission. We are all critical to the success of our mission: to create the world's best military or job fits into the mission. Imagine yourself as your boss or your boss' boss reviewing the task or job, and ask yourself what he or she would think. When you write a talking paper, dont write it just to spit out information. Write it for a target audience. Figure out what your supervisor would do differently if he or she were going to do it Ensure it meets his or her intent and advances the unit toward mission accomplishment Find out if there is a better way to do it and determine how your action impacts other units and agencies. Third, innovation is crucial to vaulting the organization to meeting its goals. So many times I've met resistance to change That's the way we've always done it" or "Whaf s broken?" S? T, "i:1. , Our contribution may seem small to the war on terrorism, but each and every one of us is vital to If we say "Pound this square peg into a round hole until it fits we are not taking the time to find a better and easier way to establish the goal and let the experts figure out how to get there. The creative person who thinks outside the container, asks questions and does not stick to the norms established by others is often more productive than the person with the biggest hammer. Davidson Jack It involves change, risk and trust. When was the last time your boss said, This is what I would like to see, you figure out how to get there?" Finally, focusing on mission success means steering the steady course. Everyone needs to understand the unit mission and the goals to get there. Planning ahead is critical to steering the steady course. Look more than six inches in front of ycu and you may not bump into the wall When all we do is react, the boat flounders. Planning ahead creates stability and predictability and propels the unit to mission success. Steering the steady course allows everyone to stand back and look for ways to make it better. Everyone knows the boat's destination. Although we are not in Afghanistan or some other country carrying out the war on terrorism, we are all vital to tie Air Force mission. Sometimes we may feel like we,.want to help, but do not know how. Our battle with terror is a year old, and it is a marathon. We contribute by focusing on our unit mission and job fundamentals. Through innovation, steering the steady course and planning ahead, we enhance success at every level. When we look to the future as an opportunity to move forward we become part of something larger than sell (Courtesy ofAir Education and Training Com- mand News Service) the success of the United States. Li. Col. How can we contribute? Here are a few practical ways to be par t of something larger than self. First, unit mission accomplishment should form the foundation for our professional behavior and attitude. Start with knowing the unit mission. It is critical to accomplishing it Then, know your job and the tasks to complete your job. Focusing on the fundamentals of our job enhances core mission achievement I once knew a pilot who had the best looking flight briefings, but when it came time to talk, he did not practice his briefs and consequently he could not communicate very well. His job performance suffered because he did not prioritize what was important Do I think first how my tasks will affect me or, rather, how they will affect the unit's mission? Am I sacrificing my own standards to make something happen? Are my priorities vested in the United States, the Air Force and the unit before myself? Concentrate on what matters most Second, when accomplishing a task, think about your role in the unit mission and how it fits into the larger picture. It's easy to perform a task without regard to how it fits into the larger picture. If you are a supervisor, take time to explain how the job or task fits into the mission. Ask your boss ques- tions when you do not understand how a task , Watch your step About two weeks ago, I was almost f struck by a vehicle while crossing In the new pedestrian crosswalk In front of Bldg. 507. was walking east from Eighth Street and was In the middle of the intersection when a vehicle turned north onto Southgate Drive. After nearly hitting me, the driver continued on without stopping. In the early mornings, with Increased traffic, dim light and with winter approachj 1 ing, this crossing will be even more dangerous without blinking pedestrian lights and 20 mph signs, similar to the right-of-wa- y, ones In front of Bidg. 503 and on the south side of Bidg. 225. When wiil pedestrian lights and crossing signs be instailed? And what are the rules for traffic approachare both sktes required ing the crosswalk to stop? Would Security Forces ever issue tickets to drivers falling to yield to pedestrians or least give tickets for speeding in this area? Would they act If someone turned in license plate numbers of personnel flagrantly Ignoring pedestrians In these cross walks? I have even witnessed government vehicles not slowing down for the crosswalks as well as privately owned vehicles. Safety is paramount on Hill AFB and is :onsidered at every step m our traffic safety process. The issue was discussed at a recent Traffic Safety coordination committee wit-Th- complaint may result in adiriinistrative - imii i aii 1 fi in "ZrULr"uUn for America's Air Force Quality Systems Hilltop Times Published by Ogden Publishing Corp.. a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, under exclusive written contract with Hill AFB. This commercial enterprise Air Force newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the "- ' i. t'.Ij.M. ,r r Crosswalk safety Walking has its risks by Jimmy Campbell Operational Risk Program Manager Ogden ALC Safety Office Winter will soon be upon us, but we will still have to get from here to there and back. The problem is, "there" is on the other side of the street and as a risk manager, I see that as a place where there is a lot of potential for risk. It gets dark earlier and it doesn't get light until later which means that the majority of us will be coming to work and going home in the dark, and we will be slipping and sliding on ice and snow through all of it. So what can we do to reduce our risks? As drivers, we can drive within the speed limits and be consciously aware that we may be challenged at any moment and anywhere by an inattentive pedestrian stepping off the curb in front of us. When approaching crosswalks, plan ahead and be ready to stop "on a dime" for the pedestrian who assumes that you will see them in the dark with enough time to stop before hitting them. This becomes even trickier when road and you you're driving on a multi-lan- e aren't in the curb lane. As a matter; of fact, we had just that type of accident a few weeks ago. The location was the new crosswalk on South Gate Drive at Eighth Street. The curb lane driver stopped, but the center lane driver didn't stop until after hitting a pedestrian. (Apparently there were no long-terinjuries.) Interestingly, the paint wasn't dry on the new crosswalk before someone had called the Chief of Safety and asked if he had to stop for a pedestrian who wasn't in his lane yet. The answer is . m a resounding yes! The Utah Traffic Safety Code requires that all traffic must stop in all lanes on the half of the road occupied by the pedestrian. The traffic must remain stopped until the pedestrian has advanced to the center of the road where all traffic from the other direction must stop. As a pedestrian, be consciously aware that you will be challenged by drivers who aren't paying attention, are speeding or are unaware of the law requiring them to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks. You may have the "legal right of way," but remember there are a lot of dead people who had the legal right of way. What can you do to lower the risk of crossing a street as a pedestrian? First, cross only at a marked crosswalk, and never in the middle of a block. When you approach the intersection, stop and look both ways. Make positive eye contact with the drivers to ensure they are aware of you and recognize their legal requirement to stop for you. Once traffic has stopped, look once more before stepping off the curb. Be particularly vigilant when stepping past a stopped vehicle and into a lane where there is no stopped vehicle because there may be an inattentive driver who wasn't ready to stop for you. When approaching the center of the street make eye contact with the drivers from the other direction before stepping in front of them. drivers and pedestrians alike And, all of us must be keenly aware of the increased risks with the extended periods of darkness and slick roads. Fighter pilots call it "situational awareness," but for the rest of us, it is nothing more than planning ahead and paying atten- tion. Remember, there is a difference between being "right" and "dead right." f ACTION LINE is your opportunity to make Hill AFB a better ' i" driving privileges. on-ba- se Pass problems Recently, I had to go to the West Gate tfor a pass. I had to be at work at 6:30 a.m., but the office doesn't open until 7 a.m., so I ended up walking to work. As I tried to cross through the traffic, the cars wouldn't stop to let me through and nearly hit me. I understand your concerns. In the past, 5ass and Registration opened earlier, but after conducting an extensive customer-us- e survey, we found that it wasn't to maintain early hours due to minimal service demands. The hours were shifted to where they were needed the most during the evening hours. To help our customers, the South Gate Visitors Center is open from 7 a.m.-1- 0 p.m. weekdays. I recommend you take advantage of these extended hours and obtain a pass the ID and before Pass from the Center, thus day a of the hassle avoiding getting pass at the if However, gate. you're unable to avoid gethours and the trafting a pass during fic is heavy, drive up to the entry controller, and the controller will direct you to a safe parking area. If you must cross the traffic lanes to the entry gate, the safest area to cross is where the sentry is directing traffic. Direct any questions toTech. Sgt Bruce Justice, NCOIC, Pass and Registration, at Ext. cost-effectiv- e 24-ho- non-dut- y ty " piiiiw y Phone numbers The base agencies listed below can be contacted directly if you have a complaint or a problem with their services: Security Forces 24-h-r. Crisis Information Services Base Restaurants RetirementCompensation (civilian) Social Actions Employee Relations Military Pay ... . Civilian Pay Air Force Suggestion Program IG Complaints (for appointment) IG Complaints (after hours) Fraud, Waste or Abuse (recording) 75th Medical Group Civil Engineering Hill Pride Hotline Public Affairs Military Housing Maintenance Safety Office Union AFOSI Narcotics Hotline. Family Assistance Center (when activated). . Global Poiver and Reach for America. " Hilltop Time Editorial Staff: , including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of the Air Force or Ogden Publishing Corp.. of the products or services advertised. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other nonnierit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the Ogden Air Logistics Center Public Affairs Office staff in Bldg. 1102. Call Ext. with story ideas or comments, or send to "hilltop.pahill.af.mir. Unless otherwise indicated, all photos are U.S. Air Force photos. TO PLACE AN ADVERTISEMENT, CALL .ui i f-place to live, work and play. When you call Ext. or send on Outlook to "HILL ACTION LINE," your comments wiD be recorded and staffed through the agency responsible for action. Please give your supervisor and chain of command the opportunity to work with you in answering questions and solving problems before Col. Seb Romano HI calling ACTION LINE. This will 75th ABW Commander help me better serve your interests. Items of basewide interest to the Hill workforce will be published in the Hilltop Times. : action and affect U.S. military services. Contents of the Hilltop Times are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense or the Department of the Air Force. The appearance of advertisements in this publication, 1 41.1 wi ' Photo by Airman Micah Garbarlno "Air Force people building the world's most respected Air and Space Force if t iwim iiftjriii'tllllW Action Line meeting and a flashing pedestrian crossing sign and additional street lighting will be installed to identify its location to motorists and the speed limit will be adjusted to 25 mph. With respect to your questions on traffic regulations, the Hill AFB traffic code and the Utah Motor Vehicle Code states, The operator of a vehicle shall exercise care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian. Drivers approaching the rear of vehicles stopped for pedestrians at intersections or marked crosswalks will not overtake and pass stopped vehicles and shall yield the slowing down or stopping if necessary to yield, to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within a crosswalk when the pedestrian is upon the half of the roadway upon which the vehicle is traveling, or when the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger." To help enforce these regulations, Security Forces will increase crosswalk violation and speed enforcement on Southgate Drive. Traffic complaints can be filed at the Security Forces Control Center in Bldg. 1219. If the complaint is specific in nature and pertains to a particular driver and vehicle, the complaint may be received on a sworn statement The statement should contain as much detail as possible to include description of the vehicle and driver, license plate number, time and locae tion of violation and identification of other rrr " 625-430- 0 Ma. Gen. Scott Bergren Maj. Shawn Mecham Bill Orndorff Gary Boyle, Beth Young, Airman Micah Garbarlno Deadlines: Commander, Director, Public Affairs Editor OO-AL- C .Staff writers Editorial and "Around the Hill" Items, 3 p.m. Friday, sports articles, 9 a.m. Monday, classified ads, 2 p.m. Tuesday, week of publication. For more Information, call the editor, Ext |