In a Class of Our Own Published Feb. 3, 2014 By Col. Brett Clark 94th Airlift Wing commander DOBBINS AIR RESERVE BASE, Ga. -- At the end of each year, we look back and assess our successes and failures and plan ahead for the New Year. What year this has been! Team Dobbins proves its versatility, tenacity and commitment to success year in and year out. We face numerous challenges in 2014 - Sequestration, budget cuts, force structure changes, mission realignment are just a few obstacles the Air Force has and to be successful, we will need to build on our strengths and push to the next level of excellence; be proactive, not reactive. This proactive, strategic mindset will require the entire wing to work as a team and define ourselves as the leaders we are. There are three 'A's' of success critical for survival in the austere environment we will face. Adaptability to change The age-old military adage, 'adapt and overcome' is as true now as ever before. Another way of stating this is Flexibility. If you say "this is the way we have always done things," you are not being flexible. New challenges require new methods and solutions and we must always be willing to listen and adopt those changes. When you approach a problem, listen first to understand fully and then, as a team, develop a course of action. Sometimes the 'way we have been doing it' is not the best solution, just the easy one. Always look forward There is a reason the rear view mirror in a car is so small in comparison to the windshield: you should look back occasionally to see where you came from, but spend a majority of the time looking forward and driving to where you are going. Team Dobbins members have to be visionary. The work we do daily affects the future of Team Dobbins and we must expend our efforts on relevant tasks. Work together to find solutions and, remember, you can disagree, but don't be disagreeable. Accountability We must hold ourselves and each other accountable for our work and core values. Team Dobbins is a family and loyalty is key for accountability. We have to trust each other to do our best all day, every day. If we 'bring it' every day, we will instill pride and foster trust within the family. When we are accountable, we develop a highly productive and interactive work environment. We must always hold each other to the highest degree of excellence in order to survive in the future. By applying these principles, we define ourselves - not someone else defining who we are. We will stand out above the rest. We cannot foresee all of the challenges ahead of us, but we do know we will meet those challenges head-on and we will succeed. Team Dobbins will be a valued and versatile wing, leading the path to the future and in a class of our own.
