The more I think about this, the more I realize that some of us need to get back to the basics of leadership. Don’t get me wrong, as I said, we do have some great leaders among us. However, my concern is that we don’t always spend enough time dedicated to the leadership development of not only ourselves, but of our subordinates. Have we become accustomed to only providing situational leadership during a conflict or issue? Better yet, in some instances, is that situational leadership provided only if it doesn’t affect “my time?” Situational leadership is a great skill to have, but it tends to be reactive rather than proactive in nature. Do we spend too much time reacting to issues involving our subordinates when a little proactive leadership at the front end would have settled the issue before it even occurred? What we actually need is intentional leadership; but this requires time, effort and getting to know those for whom we are responsible.

So how do we get there? Back in late March, I selected a group of senior NCOs to tackle this topic and came up with a plan. I shared my concerns and charged them with developing a program to meet our need as a team. In just a month, they captured my vision into a new wing initiative called “Lightning Leadership.” The nuts and bolts of this program are to provide short, but powerful discussions on leadership. You have my word that these sessions will not be a lecture or briefing environment. These discussions will be led by handpicked facilitators, but the success of these sessions lies in an open dialogue within the group. My goal is to spark (or re-spark) a desire within our enlisted ranks to step out of the shadows and be the leaders we’re not only required to be, but need to be, for the present and future success of our Air Force.

The kickoff for Lightning Leadership runs May 29-31, with two sessions each day. Members of the Airman and NCO tiers will find this program provides an immeasurable opportunity for development. If you want to take that next step as a leader, then you will be at one of these sessions. Senior NCOs, don’t worry – we’ve got a program coming for you, too!

More information about the kickoff will be coming through various advertisement avenues. For questions, contact one of the two scheduling leads: Senior Master Sgt. Angela Langhorne at 6-3609 or by email angela.langhorne@us.af.mil, or Senior Master Sgt. Myeshia Lee at 6-7406 or by email at myeshia.lee@us.af.mil.

What comes to mind when you hear the word “followership”? Do you think back to your last course in PME and recall it as something to do with leadership? Maybe an instructor once told you something like “followership is one of the key building blocks to being a good leader.” Or maybe a more philosophical mentor said you must first be a good follower before you can be a good leader.

When I think of followership, I think of words like loyalty and trust. These two words help add depth to what a follower is or is not. A follower must be loyal to the boss and more than that, a follower must be loyal to the organization and the overall mission. However, loyalty isn’t the only thing needed, trust is needed too. You have to trust the leader in order to follow.

True loyalty always requires your critical thinking, a level of mental involvement in the “game” so you don’t just hang on for the ride, we need to have our eyes wide open so we can contribute and add our own piece. Critical thinking will sometimes lead us to think the leader is going the wrong way or making a bad decision. Here is where loyalty and trust work together; your loyalty should drive you to express your concern in the appropriate manner to the leader; present your viewpoint, based on your critical thinking and not raw emotion. Once you present your view and the boss doesn’t change their decision; now your level or trust will be tested. What you do right then is what I think is at the heart of true followership.

So what is followership? It can be summarized in one short statement:
You own your bosses decisions – it’s no longer their decision – it is now yours!

So ask yourself; how good are you at “follow the leader?”

So, what is attitude? Attitude is defined as manner, disposition, feeling, position, etc., with regard to a person or thing; tendency or orientation, especially of the mind. Basically it is your personal outlook on a situation. Since becoming a first sergeant I have noticed different attitudes of Airmen. Some are happy, some are irritated, and some just hate coming to work. When asked why they feel that way, the answers vary drastically, but it always has to do with someone or something else “made” them that way. We own our attitudes; we are the only ones who can change them.

Positive attitudes can make up for other areas that might be lacking. For new Airmen, knowledge and experience haven’t yet been gained. Not everyone can give everything every day; however, with the right attitude you can still get the mission done. The Airmen that always look for the positives in a situation and take constructive criticism are the happy ones. They bounce back from adversity the easiest (resiliency) and enjoy their jobs. They smile and always are willing to help others.

Negative attitudes not only destroy your performance, but others around you. If all you do is focus on what went wrong, you start to hesitate and become afraid of what might happen. These Airmen are always looking and pointing out the mistakes in themselves and everyone else, but instead of learning and trying to fix them they convince themselves its useless. These are the ones you see hating their jobs and irritated at almost every situation.

I have learned that you control your outlook or ATTITUDE. I believe your attitude is the key to success. It has to be a conscious choice and will take work; however, when you stay in control of your attitude everything changes. You will be more successful, days are more enjoyable, productivity increases, and most importantly … it’s infectious! It’s easy to have a good outlook when things are going your way, but what if they don’t? Again, it will take work on our part, but take a step back and look at the situation. Find the positives; trust me there are always positives! For example, if you lose your driver’s license. The positives could be that you can save money on gas, or you get more exercise by walking places. Let’s say you misplaced or lost documentation. The positives could be that you develop a new filing system, or you can help others learn by your mistake.

Every problem has a solution, only if we perhaps change our “ATTITUDE.” It is our attitude toward life and work that makes our life 100 percent successful. I will leave you with a quote from the fifth Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, Robert Gaylor, “Airmen have control over aptitude and attitude, opportunity … not so much, but attitude can bring opportunities.”

If you assign the numerical value in order to the alphabet, what word gives you 100?

L+U+C+K = 12+21+3+11 = 47 percent
K+N+O+W+L+E+D+G+E = 11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96 percent
H+A+R+D+W+O+R+K = 8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98 percent
A+T+T+I+T+U+D+E = 1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100 percent

Class 12-EBG began training on Aug. 22, 2012. They spent more than a month in academics, learning aircraft systems and emergency procedures. This academic knowledge was put to the test during numerous simulators, where the students demonstrated the ability to apply their classroom knowledge to realistic emergency situations. Once they passed this initial hurdle, they were ready to strap into the real thing and take their first flight in the F-16.

Following the transition flying phase, where they learned the basics of landing, advanced handling and emergency procedures, the students moved into the air-to-air and air-to-ground phases. “Emerald Knight” instructors put 12-EBG through the gauntlet, with the students flying more than 950 sorties during the duration of their course. The students quickly learned what would be expected of them as operational wingman. The culmination of their training was Operation Begin Compliance, a large force exercise during which they were tasked with destroying targets while opposed by hostile air and ground forces.

Graduation day signifies the end of initial training for 12-EBG, but not the end of their learning. Following graduation, most of the class will report to Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses academics here at Luke AFB which lasts 30 days. Once they arrive at their first operational unit, they’ll undergo further mission qualification training, normally lasting approximately 90 days. Like many who have gone before them, some of them will soon deploy to places like Afghanistan and put their hard won skills to the test; flying combat sorties over hostile territory.

Hometown: Crestview, Fla.

Years in service: One year

Family: Parents, Roosevelt and Ella Polk; brother and sister-in-law, Trey and Melchar Polk; and brother, Rhys Polk

Education: Bachelor’s degree in sports management at the University of West Florida and an associate’s degree in exercise science at the Santa Fe College in Gainesville, Fla.

Inspirations: My parents for always demonstrating their faithful dedication to serving Christ, this country and the community.

Goals: Further my education and make staff sergeant the first time testing

Greatest feat: Starting my career in the Air Force after overcoming many obstacles and delays.

Self-description: Friendly, funny, humble, go-getter.

Famous last words: “As long as you do what is right, you can’t go wrong.”

Off-duty interests: Work out, play basketball, sing, create music.

Commander’s comments: “A1C Polk’s positive attitude is contagious,” said Lt. Col. Chris Colcord, 308th FS commander. “She attacks every endeavor with a smile and is always happy to be at work, whether we have 5 a.m. shows or she’s still at work at midnight. She will volunteer for any task to help the squadron. She single-handedly took care of the St. Mary’s Thanksgiving food drive within the squadron, from advertising it to collecting all the food items. She also volunteered to teach DUI prevention for a Wingman Day during our commander’s call.”

Courtesy Photo

Staff Sgt. Steven Bruner, 56th Security Forces Squadron kennel master, and Chrach, 56th SFS military working dog, pose in front of a Polaris Ranger vehicle in Herat Province, Afghanistan, during a deployment with an Army Special Operations Task Force West unit. The MWD team received a Bronze Star Medal for actions during their deployment including locating four separate improvised explosive devices totaling more than 150 pounds, and recovering 50 blasting caps that could have been used to make IEDs.

[Editor’s note: this is the third in a 3-part series on military working dogs]

The 56th Security Forces Squadron military working dog team goes to a 45-day training course at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., before a deployment. The team performs MWD training then works with the other security forces members for combined training.

“Our main priority while deployed is detection,” said Staff Sgt. Jessie Johnson, 56th SFS MWD handler. “We perform outdoor and open area searches, and buried aides and mass odor detections, which are things we will see downrange.”

MWD teams will work heavily on their communication during training.

“Being the only K-9 handler of the group and having a whole team behind you, the unit needs to work on how to communicate, and how to interact with the dog,” Johnson said.

Deployment tasks vary depending on what an MWD team is tasked to do. They may receive a Joint Expeditionary Tasking order where the pair will be assigned to an infantry unit to clear routes of explosives.

The handlers and dogs travel together to the deployed location.

Staff Sgt. Steven Bruner, 56th SFS MWD kennel master, and Chrach, 56th SFS MWD, deployed with an Army Special Forces unit on their last deployment to Afghanistan.

“It was different from my previous deployment because I had never been attached to a special-forces unit,” he said. “Being the only handler at the post, I was tasked to go on several missions with my unit. Having Chrach there allowed the unit to clear out areas they couldn’t go to before because they didn’t have a MWD with them.”

Bruner and Chrach received a Bronze Star Medal for actions during their deployment including locating four separate improvised explosive devices totaling more than 150 pounds, and recovering 50 blasting caps that could have been used to make IEDs.

Being deployed to Afghanistan has made Bruner more aware of how dangerous his job is and the importance of a MWD team.

“I responded to a vehicle that was blown up and had four personnel in there killed during the explosion,” he said. “There was a secondary IED set up to get any other personnel who would come to help those in the vehicle. By having the dog out there, he was able to find the secondary IED and save lives.”

Bruner and Johnson have come back from deployments with more than just a better understanding of their job.

“Deployments are probably one of the most bonding experiences an MWD team can have,” Johnson said. “There wasn’t more than two hours a day I wasn’t with my dog. I needed him to protect myself and the team, and he needed me to take care of his daily needs.”

Airman 1st Class Devante Williams

Master Sgt. Michael Crawford, 56th Aerospace Medicine Squadron flight chief of fight medicine, gives out information to the attendees during the foreign student medical tour at Luke Air Force Base, May. 2. Aviation and occupational medicine students from the University of Otago, New Zealand, traveled to Phoenix to get a glimpse of the mission here at Luke.

Aviation and occupational medicine students from the University of Otago, New Zealand, traveled more than 6,750 miles to Phoenix to get a glimpse of what happens here at Luke Air Force Base.

Even though Luke was just one stop during their visit to the United States, the experience was clearly invaluable to the medical students, said Lt. Col. Daniel Smith, 56th Aerospace Medical Squadron chief of aerospace medicine.

“The students were fascinated by our mission here at Luke,” Smith said. “They were amazed at the training and monitoring that we follow for aviators in high-performance aircraft.”

The group started the day at headquarters building where they received a mission briefing from Col. Robert Webb, 56th Fighter Wing vice commander.

Afterward, the students visited a variety of units throughout Luke, including life support, egress, the 308th and the 310th Fighter Squadrons, flight medicine, public health, bioenvironmental engineering and aerospace physiology.

Touring an air force base in the United States may have been a once in a lifetime experience for some of the students.

“They mentioned that New Zealand doesn’t have any fighters in their air force at the current time,” Smith said.

Smith also said hosting events with multiple countries not only benefits those nations, but can benefit the Air Force as well by fostering positive relationships with other countries.

“These aviation medical specialists will go on to high level positions in their different nation’s companies,” Smith said. “You never know what future positive relationships can be forged with such international events like this.”

These students were also able to share some of their knowledge with the Airmen they met, said Airman 1st Class Kelli Lemons, 56th Aerospace Medical Squadron public health technician.

“I learned so much from this experience,” Lemons said. “I felt like I was making new friends and learned so much about what they do.”

The tour group included medical students from Canada, Australia, Fjij, Israel, Finland, United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates.

The students finished the tour with farewell comments from Luke Airmen who relished the opportunity to converse with students from foreign nations.

Airman 1st Class Devante Williams

Capt. Aaron Gershbock, 56th Fighter Wing judge advocate, serves food to the attendees during the Deployed Spouses Dinner at the Chapel Annex May 9. Families of service members that are deployed or those members who recently returned from a deployment were treated to dinner, massages, and a coloring area for the children.

Everybody deserves a break from slaving away in the kitchen, spouses of deployed members especially. To help the Company Grade Officers Council hosted a deployed spouses dinner May 9 at the base chapel.

The event was open to spouses of deployed members, their families and members who have recently returned from a deployment.

“Hosting the deployed spouses dinner allows Luke Air Force Base CGOs an opportunity to express our gratitude for the many sacrifices that deployed spouses make on a daily basis,” said 1st Lt. Steven Ramos, 56th Medical Operations Squadron staff clinical social worker and Luke CGOC president.

“The sacrifices and commitment of deployed spouses cannot be overlooked, and the family dinner allows them time to be catered to and cared for by members of the Luke community,” Ramos said.

Members of the CGOC grilled out and provided attendees with an American picnic-themed meal. Adults were treated to free massages given by local massage therapists and arts and crafts were available for the kids.

“The deployed family dinner is a time for stressed parents to come and relax, build up a social support network and let their children play with other children,” said Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Theadore Wilson, 56th Fighter Wing chaplain.“The dinner is a free meal with no cooking or cleaning for those family members whose loved one is deployed,” he said.

The occasion is typically held once a month, usually the second Thursday evening of the month. The chapel partners with base agencies to put on the dinner; they support with funds, and the partnering agency helps out with the manpower.

To participate, families do not have to do anything. The chapel just request that individuals interested in attending RSVP to get an accurate head count.

There are other activities the chapel offers for families to participate in.

“Of course we have our regular weekend worship services and various special events throughout year,” Wilson said. “We also have Vacation Bible School (June 3-7, 5:30 to 8:00 pm), Hallelujah Night that is held on Halloween, Faith and Family nights at sporting events, marriage retreats and counseling services.”

“These events are for our Luke Airmen and their families so come join us!” he said.

For more information on Luke Chapel sponsored events, contact the base chapel at (623) 856-6211.