Each of us key to joint mission

SOUTHWEST ASIA -- Who has the most important job on base? Is it the pilots because they fly the planes and drop the bombs? Or maybe the command post because they are responsible for command and control issues? How about the folks in the 379th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron because they feed us, lodge us, and care for all our administrative needs? What about the hard-working Airman in communications or the civil engineer squadron, or the logistics readiness squadron, contracting or finance? Obviously, the maintainers are the most important because they fix the aircraft, right? How about the hard-working men and women performing Third Country National escort duties, a thankless but important job? The answer is simple; the most important job on base is the one you are currently performing.

Vince Lombardi once said, "Individual commitment to a group effort -- that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work." What is your level of commitment to the joint team? Are you contributing to the effort to "move the ball down the field?" Do you take ownership of processes and strive to make them better than before? Do you come to work and strive for perfection?

Working as a team is the most important thing we can do in a deployed environment. We depend on each other to accomplish the mission, take care of equipment and, most importantly, we depend on each other to take care of one another. Take the time to learn what other people on base do and how they support the mission. By doing so you will gain an appreciation for the level of effort required to perform some of the other base functions. You may even make a few friends. You will also learn about the capabilities around the base and know where to look should you need help with a problem.

There is an anonymous quote that captures the essence of teamwork well: "It is amazing how much you can accomplish when it doesn't matter who gets the credit." The ultimate goal should be the success of our mission here and ensuring everyone gets home safely; it is a team effort and we all succeed when bombs hit target. Be proud of your contributions to the team, but be more proud of those around you working just as hard and doing their best to accomplish the mission.

In today's joint environment, and especially in the area of responsibility, we depend on every person to do the best job possible in whatever task they are assigned. Every role is important to the mission, from the chef cooking your meals, to the servicemember running the sweeper on the flight line, to the air traffic controller, and the guards that keep us safe. So next time you are out and about remember this - whether you're a sister service member, civilian, joint or Coalition partner, every one of us has an important job.