Hill Air Force Base Newspapers | 2012-03-01 | Page 2

2 COMMENTARY I Id 'top TIMES March 1, 2012 Hilltop TIMES Hilltop Times Editorial Staff: Lee Carter ... Standard-Examiner publisher Mary Lou Gorny Hilltop Times Editor Krista Starker Hilltop Times Correspondent Deadlines: Editorial and news items are due by noon on the Friday prior to the Thursday print date. To submit news items e-mail [e-mail] or call 801- 625-4273. For Classified Advertising, call 801-625-4300. For Retail Advertising, call 801-625-4388. The Hilltop Times is published by Ogden Publishing Corp., 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, 332 Standard Way, Ogden, Utah, 84404. Additional editorial content is provided by various military and civilian wire services and Hill Air Force Base public affairs departments. Call 801-625-4273 with story ideas or comments, or contact the editor, Mary Lou Gorny, at [e-mail] . Call 801-625-4300 for Classified Advertising or 801-6254388 for Retail Advertising. if you see a piece of trash, pick it up' 75th Air Base Wing acting vice commander A t the recent 75th Air Base Wing Annual Awards ceremony I experienced another great example of Wingmanship and "Excellence in All We Do." I'm sharing this story and some leadership lessons that are relevant today. Read to the end and you'll discover the name of my newest Wingman. "If you see a piece of trash, pick it up" 4 in my role as the 75th Medical Group commander, I discuss this simple and powerful phrase with all my new employees at the monthly group newcomers training. At this training I randomly select new employees to tell me what the phrase means to them. Some say, "Sir 4 pick up any trash I see." Which is correct, I do wish for them to do so. Most, however, recognize that it really says if you see something wrong, fix it if you can or affirmatively hand off the problem to someone who can fix it. The phrase is, of course, a metaphor for "Excellence in All We Do." I invite my employees to fix what isn't right, and I assure them that I, as the commander, need their fresh sets of eyeballs on all our missions to ensure we have found and fixed everything that "isn't right." I offer them several examples so that they understand that I mean what I say 4 I want them to feel comfortable finding and picking up all of our "trash." Even to go so far as to tell the colonel that if they see that my "gig line" is off, I want one of them to tell me so I can fix it. My experience as a commander, leader and follower has taught me that if everyone in the organization "picks up the trash" then the overall excellence of that organization constantly improves. In fact, the constant pursuit of excellence often results in sustained excellence or even outstanding achievement. Fitness Tip tram the Health and leanness Canter Up to 12 weeks of FREE tobacco cessation medication is available to federal employees and up to 6 months is available for active duty, dependents and retirees when attending the tobacco cessation series. Call the Health and Wellness Center at 801-777-1215 for further information. in the next 12 months or so. On the subject of unit Self-Inspection Programs (SIP) and complacency 4 you've all read the headlines of Air Force Instructions ("Compliance with this AFI is mandatory") and know that SIP is a commander's program and responsibility, and that commanders and directors will be held accountable for noncompliance, particularly for not knowing when they are noncompliant. I urge all leaders and supervisors to be very wary of the various versions of complacency in your SIPs: "It's always been this way," "Last time the inspectors were here it got a (passing grade) so we don't need to inspect it," "(The Old Hat) has been doing it for 15 years, therefore we know it's in compliance," "We just bought it so it must be compliant," "We wrote the contractor's statement of work to state they do it in compliance, therefore we can assume it is in compliance," etc. For about 14 years I had not fully inspected my mess dress jacket, one that I assumed was compliant because I bought it from Military Clothing Sales. I wonder how many other staff sergeants saw the noncompliance and thought to themselves "Geez, can't the colonel get his uniform right?" Had I ever been inspected, I certainly would've been sent to the Grog Bowl. Second, you should be able to teach an old colonel 4 and any leader for that matter 4 new tricks. Old colonels, and all leaders, must also be willing to learn. With that willingness to learn goes a measure of humility. Leaders ought not confuse "Excellence" with perfection. The Air Force expects us to be "Excellent in All We Do," not perfect in all we do. I wish to very publicly thank Staff Sgt. Joe Rodriguez, from 75th Communications Directorate, who is my newest Wingman. Sergeant Rodriguez's eagle eyes saw the problem on this colonel's uniform the other night, and his dedication to "Excellence" is an example for us all. AIRMAN 'AIRMAN Where are you from? HAWC Nest At the end of the awards ceremony the other night, a staff sergeant came up to me away from the crowd and said, "Sir, I think there is something wrong with the buttons on your mess dress jacket." "Really," I asked, "what?" Col. Hickman He replied, "Sir, the ones on your right side are sewn on higher than those on the left." I took off the jacket, and sure enough, the factory sewnon buttons on the right were not sewn on properly. In fact, now that I actually looked at the situation, it was obvious they were off. I thanked the staff sergeant for telling me, which of course now brought the "trash" to my attention so I could fix the problem. Folks, I've owned that jacket since at least 1997 when I was stationed at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, and I had NEVER noticed this before, and I wear the jacket at least every other month. While I checked and rechecked the ribbons and badges, I had never thought to check the factory-issued buttons. Leaders 4 this staff sergeant saw "a piece a trash" that he knew he could pick up and he had the commitment to Excellence to do so. At the right time that night, he showed his vice wing commander what was wrong and helped that colonel get his uniform right. I'm sure there are many more like him across our base; imagine how far we could move the ball forward if all 22,000 personnel shared that same commitment to excellence. Before I tell you the staff sergeant's name, let's explore a couple other leadership lessons learned from this event. First, we know that both AFMC and ACC will conduct unit compliance inspections BY COL. DONALD HICKMAN you want to be? A fire- Florida. fighter. What is your favorite movie quote? "So much What is your favorite type of music? Hip-hop. room for activities." 4 "Stepbrothers" Airman 1st Class David Anderkavich 75th Comptroller Squadron What are your hobbies? Coaching basketball. What is your favorite part about being in the Air Force? The stability. you were not in the Air Force, what would If If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and why? Italy, because it would be a cool place to go. What is your favorite thing to do on the weekends? Watch sports. Air Force. What are your future goals? To retire from the 21st birthday. THINK SAFETY Hill's Total 2012 DUls: 2 777-7000 [e-mail] Hill's Last DUI: Pao. 23 Unit Involved: 3,Er8a ,lete,t4t Victiateaciace 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 opportunity 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. What is your favorite childhood memory? My Report suspicious activity via the AFOSI EAGLE EYESprogram Dial: 777-3056 / 3057/ 3058. watch 4 Report 4 Protect Force Protection is Our Business 4 Everyone is a Sensor Sgueldirapt Airmen Against Drinking and Driving provide rides when designated drivers are unavailable. Call 777-1111 to request a ride anytime. Hours of operation: Fridays-Saturdays 10 p.m.- 6 a.m. Sundays 9 p.m.-midnight. Phone numbers — The base agencies listed can be contacted directly if you have a complaint or a problem with their services: SUICIDE PREVENTION ASSISTANCE Mental Health Clinic 777-7909 Chaplain 777-2106 Military OneSource [phone] [phone] National Suicide Prevention Line TriWest Crisis Line [phone] TriWest Behavioral [phone] Health Contact Center EAP [phone] Occupational Medicine 777-1163 Services Wingman Advocates 777-2255 Security Forces 24-hr, Crisis Information Force Support Squadron Base Restaurants Retirement/Compensation (civilian) Equal Opportunity Office Employer Relations Military Pay Civilian Pay Air Force Suggestion Program 777-7433 777-9696 Hill Pride Hotline [phone] Hill Straight Talk 777-5305 Public Affairs 777-5333 777-3056 IG Complaints Military Housing 825-9392 777-4134 (for appointment) 777-2043 IG Complaints 777-5361 Maintenance 777-6142 777-3333 Safety Office (after hours) 586-9300 Fraud, Waste or Abuse 777-5361 Safety Office Hotline [phone] Sexual Assault Response (recording) 777-7129 Coordinator (or) 777-1964 1-877-885-9595 777-1851 Loud Noise Union 777-3257 (complaints) 777-6246 777-1852 777-4918 AFOSI Narcotics Hotline [phone]th Medical Group Family Assistance Center 777-3090 Civil Engineering 777-1856 (when activated)