It's time to get ready

Published Oct. 8, 2010
By Col. John C. Sell
21st Medical Group commander

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- If you look back in history at the many great long distance runners like Jim Ryan, Kip Keino and Frank Shorter, these profound athletes spent countless hours training day in and day out. They would run many miles each week, sometimes at a nice steady jogging pace and at other times they would conduct some very hard sprints to get their body and mind ready for the big race. This conditioning had them well-prepared when the gun sounded.

Our preparation for the upcoming 21st Space Wing ORI/UCI should be approached in the same manner. We should be "jogging" every day as we take on and address the numerous compliance areas that we know will be inspected. Voter's assistance, motorcycle safety, file plans and the personnel reliability program are just to name a few of the areas we must take care of now.

Are you familiar with the Airman's Manual? Do you know how to perform self aid and buddy care? What needs to occur when a "Shelter in Place" is called? Are recall rosters current and does everyone who is required have an up-to-date family care plan? Do you know what to do and can you perform? All of these items are the slow but steady "jog" that needs to be accomplished to methodically prepare for "the race."

On the other hand, our "sprints" occur during the wing's Condor Crest exercise not only to stress, test and evaluate how we respond, but most importantly to build our confidence when the "gun sounds" and the "race starts." Is it normal for us to get a little edgy when the Wing EET writes us up on some "trivial" matter? Sure. That edginess is called pride and goes back to one of our core values - "Excellence in All We Do."

Remember, it's the wing's EET's job is to challenge and throw all kinds of scenarios at us so we can see where we need to improve. Mistakes will happen but it is up to each of us to learn from the write-ups and not to repeat them when the IG is here. And it's up to each of us to teach others who may be new to the Air Force or the wing to ensure they know what to do. That's called "Leadership."

So whether you're practicing your free throws, hitting countless buckets of golf balls on the driving range, running mile after mile in preparation for the race, or getting your store and area in order for the wing's ORI/UCI, the bottom line is the time to do it is now. It's time to get ready.