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Show 2 I IiIltop TIMES Jan. 3, 2013 Hilltop TIME Lly Since 1948 Hilltop Times Editorial Staff: Lee Carter ... Standard-Examiner publisher Mary Lou Gorny Hilltop Times Editor Mikayla Beyer Hilltop Times Writer Hilltop Times Krista Starker Correspondent Hilltop Times Kim Cook Correspondent Deadlines: Editorial and news items are due by noon on the Friday prior to the Thursday print Aug. 30, 2012. To submit news items e-mail hilltoptimes@standard. net 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 mgorny@standard.net . Call 801-625-4300 for Classified Advertising or 801-6254388 for Retail Advertising. COMMENTARY Could've, should've, would've . . . sound familiar? BY LT. COL. ANDY LOVING 375th Contracting Squadron S COTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. — Have you ever found yourself muttering one of these remorseful words seen in the title? These words are frequently used in reference to an expression of regret ... the incalculable measure of "what could have been." Regret often surfaces when we realize that we have not lived up to our fullest potential, falling short of some level of expectations for any number of reasons. How do we know whether we are striving to reach our fullest potential? Key phrases and tag-lines are commonly exhibited throughout the world around us in an attempt to help provide a measure of merit for this vague goal: maximum effort, do your best, optimal performance, or "leave it on the field." The vast majority of organizations in today's environment seek to encourage individuals to perform at a level commensurate with their fullest potential, because of the benefits that it ultimately provides the overall organization. In the Air Force, our core value of "Excellence In All We Do" provides the standard against which we should measure our performance. The Little Blue Book (Jan. 1997), an oldie-but-a-goodie, labels this core value as a challenge "to develop a sustained passion for the continuous improvement and innovation that will propel the Air Force into a long-term, upward spiral of accomplishment and performance." In the simplest of terms, I interpret this as my duty to truly desire to deliver my very best possible effort on a daily basis to help achieve my unit's mission. To achieve results in my daily routine that match my fullest potential, I must press beyond the surface of simply checking off tasks as complete. Understanding the "why" behind a process that drove the task, or being able to develop a more efficient process for accomplishing the same outcome are examples that reveal a desire to provide my very best. Truly committing oneself to being the best that you can be is the driver behind the difference between simply good individuals and those great individuals who distance themselves from the masses. Leaders (at every level in the organization) have a responsibility to help establish an environment which helps personnel strive for excellence, and allows them to endeavor each day to reach their fullest potential. Additionally, leaders must discern and correctly gauge which subordinates are living up to their fullest potential. Those who are performing at an optimal level must be continually challenged to satisfy their internal drive for striving towards excellence. If subordinates are instead just going through the motions, leaders must determine how to motivate them so that they can contribute their fullest potential to the mission. The question then centers on how to motivate those personnel who are not living up to their fullest potential. What is holding them back? Are there artificial limitations imposed on personnel within the unit? Or, do the leader and the subordinate have a different level of expectation or measure (thought process, which may not have been communicated) on what it means to deliver excellence? Having very clear expectations with your personnel is a critical factor for success. Ever heard of the Pygmalion effect? This is the idea that people will ultimately live up to the expectations levied on them. It also involves a person's introspective thoughts about themselves and their prospective potential. The pursuit of excellence is not only what we should strive for at work, but also in our lives outside of work. As we go through the demands of our daily lives, nearly all of us wear many hats and have many titles in addition to those associated with our military or civilian positions. Whether they be student, mother, son, wife or daddy; these titles represent obligations that demand time and energy. The same measure of excellence applies in these situations as well. Understand that we have the power to expand the realm of what is possible within the environment around us. However, if we don't continually expand our potential, then we become stagnant and find ourselves settling for status quo. We ultimately limit the amount of contributions that we can provide to any organization or to our family by not working to expand the boundaries of our potential. By surrounding ourselves with smarter people (mentors), learning new skills, reading books and gaining experience, we increase our abilities, and thereby drive an increase in our potential. When coupled with motivation and desire, an increased potential manifests itself in the quality and value of the work that we can perform, and the contributions that we are able to make every day of our lives. Much like a runner breaks the tape at the finish line, choose a point in time in the future when you can look back on your achievements and determine whether you lived up to your potential. If you cannot do this, how can you improve for the next time? If you can, then how can you work to increase your potential with the expectation to improve upon your performance the next time? In either instance, self-evaluation from the stand-point of "Excellence In All We Do" is a great benchmark, and zero regret from living up to our fullest potential is the goal. The 388th TFW was well known for its effective use of the F-4. During Operation Prize Bull (Sept. 21, 1971), the wing launched 34 F-4s in support of a massive attack on POL Storage Facilities southwest of Bat Lake, N. Vietnam. This was the first time U.S. forces used what capability to bomb North Vietnam? llg A. All-weather B. Long distance strike C. AGM-88 HARM missile D. Remote scanning A GLIMPSE BACK JAN. 2, 1967 Operation BOLO: F-4 pilots from the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) shot down seven N. Vietnamese MiG21s in a sweep mission over the Red River valley to set a one-day aerial victory record. This MiG suppression operation was dubbed the largest air battle of the war, and the most dramatic use of tactical deception. Col Robin Olds, the 8th TFW Commander, shot down one of the MiGs and became the only U.S. Air Force ace with aerial victories in World War II and the Vietnam War. HAWC Nest Fitness Tip from the Health and Wellness Center 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. AWE THINK SAFETY Hill's Total 2013 DUIs: 0 U.S. Air Force .A All-Weather: The Rams participated in Operation Prize Bull using all-weather capability. Because of the poor weather, all sorties bombed by means of longrange navigation. Seventh Air Force stated that the 388th TFW bombing efforts were far more accurate than other units that participated. Members of the 34th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Korat Air Base, Thailand (1969). Hill's Last DUI: #71,0fA. 9 ILIM 777-7000 Unit Involved: 5231d Seecouutied Victiotealace Sguad/ropt Airmen Against Drinking and Driving provide rides when designated drivers are unavailable. Call 777-1111 to request a ride anytime. H ours of operation: Fridays-Saturdays 10 p.m.- 6 a.m. Sundays 9 p.m.-midnight. action.line.pa@hill.af.mil 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 Phone numbers — The base agencies listed can be contacted directly if you have a complaint or a problem with their services: 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 777-3056 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 Safety Office 777-3333 (after hours) 586-9300 777-5361 Safety Office Hotline Fraud, Waste or Abuse 777-5455 Sexual Assault Response 777-1985 777-7129 (recording) 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 777-6901 75th Medical Group Family Assistance Center 777-3090 Civil Engineering 777-1856 (when activated) SUICIDE PREVENTION ASSISTANCE Mental Health Clinic 777-7909 Chaplain 777-2106 Military OneSource (800) 342-9647 National Suicide (800) 273-8255 Prevention Line TriWest Crisis Line (866) 284-3743 TriWest Behavioral (866) 651-4970 Health Contact Center EAP (800) 222-0364 777-1163 Occupational Medicine Services Wingman Advocates 777-2255 |