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Show COMMENTARY TIMES October 16,2008 Lessons learned abroad from game of soccer 1MES U'cekls SI I VMS Hilltop Times Editorial Staff: Lee Carter... Standard-Exominerpublisher Mary Lou Gorny Hilltop Times Editor Lee Anne Hensley Hilltop Times Writer Deadlines: Editorial and news items are due by noon on the Friday prior to the Thursday print date. To submit news items e-mail hil[toptimes©standard.net or call 625-4273. For Classified Advertising, call 625-4300. For Retail Advertising, call 625-4388. The Hilltop Times is published by Ogden Publishing Corporation, a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, under, and in compliance with, a Memorandum of Understanding with Hill Air Force Base. The content of the Hilltop Times does not necessarily represent the views of, nor is it endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Air Force or Hill Air Force Base (collectively, the Government). The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Government 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 nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. Editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the Standard-Examiner's Davis County Office, 67 S. Main St.,, Suite 140, Layton, Utah, 84040. Additional editorial content is provided by various military and civilian wire services and Hill Air Force Base public affairs departments. •• Call 625-4273 with story ideas or comments, or send e-mail to Editor Mary Lou Gorny at mgorny@standard. net. Call 625-4300 for Classified Advertising or 625-4388 for Retail Advertising. BY LT. COL. TONNEY T. KAW-UH 75th Air Base Wing Contracting Squadron commander H ello, from the International Security and Assistance Force, Kabul, Afghanistan. A lot of the international colleagues I work with, often point out that soccer is the greatest game ever played. Although I'm not a rabid fan of the sport, I was one of the many souls caught up in the spectacle of our very own headquarters' ISAF Olympic Soccer venue. The one thing I didn't understand about the game of soccer is the known fact that the ball moves backward more than it moves forward. While watching a few of the games with my colleagues, I witnessed four passes backward for every pass forward. Still, we can learn a lot from the game of soccer. The first lesson is to recognize that the game of soccer is about having performance drive. There's very little rest in soccer with the players and the ball in constant motion. Mark Stiffler, author of "Performance: Creating the Performance-Driven Organization," states that being performance-driven is about the entire workforce pulling together to execute the organization's strategy. He points out that there are generally two distinct approaches to performance. One is focused on the performance of the organization and the other is focused on the performance of its people. We can further separate roles and responsibilities along functional Air Force Specialty Codes for our military or career series for our civilians. Positions in soccer like mid-field, striker and defender are similar. On the surface, each of these positions appear reasonably sound, but Mark Stiffler cautions that if each person touches only their particular function on the field and that they all play only within their stated purpose, then they each see the team's strategy from a narrow perspective and usually don't end up working together to achieve the goal. Pun intended. The second lesson is that we can learn to link the past with the future. Only the top teams in their respective brackets in the HQ ISAF Olympics enter the medal rounds, and they don't enter the foray Lt. Col. Kaw-uh without having a strategy. Although coaches plan and communicate their organizations' strategies and the players are tasked to execute the game plan, only one team can claim the gold medal. The runner-up will no doubt re-evaluate their past performance. The Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award criterion is one tool used to help improve performance excellence. The fourth Baldrige category is measurement, analysis and knowledge management. This method focuses on information management and performance measurement systems and how organizations analyze performance data and information. However, the definition further explains that measuring past performance alone may not predict future successes accurately. Instead of looking at past performance data as an indicator that we are heading in the right direction on the field, the recommendation is that we need to be proactive toward the future. We can use past performance by evaluating successes and shortfalls through unit self inspections, unit compliance inspections and operational exercises. Based on the analysis from those and various other tools, we can adjust our responses to meet future needs. The third lesson ties together the past with the future through performance because driving performance or managing performance is only part of the challenge. The bigger picture is to unify the organization and individual approaches. The Dutch CNest Question: I am a light smoker. What are my health risks? Answer Unfortunately, there is no safe level of cigarette smoking. In addition to nicotine and tar, cigarettes also contain over 4000 chemicals — at least 43 of them are known to cause cancer. The good news is that quitting smoking greatly reduces your risk of many smoking related illnesses. Increase your chances for quitting by signing up for the Health and Wellness Center Building 533 Tobacco Cessation course. Call 777-1215 to sign up. With National Football League games back on the television and my beloved Steelers already in the playoff mix, I still debate with my international colleagues about whether or not soccer is the greatest game ever played. However, like American style football, I agree with the comment that choreography and the sport of soccer is beautifully in step with performance. After watching soccer played here and getting a better understanding of the game, I appreciate even more why a part of any organization's strategy should include looking backward in order to move forward. Lt. Col Tonney T Kaw-uh is currently assigned as the Theatre Head of Contracts and Customs Officer for the International Security and Assistance Force headquartered in Kabul, Afghanistan. 777-7000 action.line.pa@hill.af.mil What are the plans for Halloween Trick or Treat on base, and can you allow parents time off from the exercise to take their kids out Trick or Treating? Thank you for your question! And the answer is yes, depending on the mission, military members will be able to take their childrenoutfor Halloween. Due to the requirement to continue flying operations during the afternoon and evening of Halloween, we cannot shut down the exercise completely. However, we have gone to great lengths in planning the exercise to allow as many Airmen as possibletobereleasedtoaccompanytheirchildrenforHalloweenTrickorTreat.On Oct. 31, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., with Commander approval, Airmen will be allowed to leave the play area and take their children out for this fun holiday. Furthermore, as always, our great Security Forces and some volunteers, will be out and about, patrolling the neighborhoods, controlling traffic and ensuring a fun and safe environment for our families. The hours to Trick or Treat on the base will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Report suspicious activity via the AFOSi EAGLE EYES program Dial-. 777-3056 / 3057/ 3058. Watch - Report - Protect Force Protection is Our Business - Everyone is a Sensor ir Htallh * no i'.'fllnt ii Centir team that won HQ ISAF gold didn't overflow with world-class talent. I spoke with some of their players, including the major who works in my division, and the players were just hoping to win a few games within their bracket. But as the ISAF Olympics progressed, their teamwork, execution and play also improved. Whether you play the role of a mid-fielder (attempting to retain the ball and feed your own strikers or the role of the striker, looking for the winning solution) or the role of the defender (absorbing the tough issues and filling in where you're needed), seeing the teams' strategy from the same point of view is vital. The midfielder assesses the situation and looks for help from another mid-fielder or to a defender that has moved up if the situation isn't favorable while the striker repositions him/ herself on the field. This allows more time to re-evaluate or to re-position assets for the next phase. To multiply the effect, both can be accomplished concurrently. If the new situation is favorable, the ball is passed forward. All of the moving parts work together to achieve the goal. Pun not intended, but it works. Phone numbers — The base agencies listed can be contacted ^ directly if ^v, you have a ;:• Security Forces 777-3056 24-hr. Crisis Information 777-3056 Force Support Squadron 777-4134 Base Restaurants 777-2043 Retirement/Compensation 777-6142 (civilian) Social Actions ,...;...........777-3516 Employer Relations 777-7129 Military Pay 777-1851 Civilian Pay 777-6246 Air Force Suggestion 777-6901 Program Hill Straight Talk ........777-9696 IG Complaints 777-5305 (for appointment) IC Complaints ......777-5361 (after hours) Photoillustration by LEE ANNE HENSLEY/Hilltop Times When you call or send an e-mail, your comments will be recorded and staffed through the agency responsible for action. Please give your supervisor and chain of command the opportuFraud, Waste or Abuse :... 777-5361 (recording) Loud Noise 1-877-885-9595 (complaints) 75th Medical Croup 777-4918 Civil Engineering : 777-1856 Hill Pride Hotline 777-7433 Public Affairs :. 777-5333 nity to work with you in answering questions and solving problems before calling the Action Line. This will help me better serve your interests. Items of basewide interest will be published in the Hilltop Times. Military Housing 825-9392 Maintenance Safety Office 777-3333 Safety Office Hotline....! 586-9300 Union 777-3257 AFOSI Narcotics Hotline 777-1852 Family Assistance Center 777-3090 (when activated) -•. . . ;.-: -, Are you ready for the snow >. season? THINK SAFETY Hill's Total 2008 DUIs: 26 Hill's Last DUI: Unit Involved: Airmen Against Drinking and Driving provide rides when designated drivers are unavailable. Call 777-W1 any time to requests ride. Airman Sean Stinson 729th Air Control Squadron "No, I don't have winter clothes, yet. I just have the clothes I got from Phoenix, Arizona." Senior Airman T.J. McLelland 4th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base (native Utahn) "I'm living in North Carolina now, where it snows once a year. We don't have to worry about this anymore." Jason Rietbrock 573rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron "Yes, I love to ski! I already went to Sports Authority where they wax skis and set up your bindings for you." Staff Sgt. Leguiya Jordan 75th Force Support Squadron "Yes and no. I am ready for the fun things like snowboarding and outdoor events, but I'm not ready for shoveling snow out of the driveway. I have mixed feelings about it." |