ALI BASE, Iraq -- Descending into Baghdad, my C-130 Hercules crew prepares for landing.
The copilot coordinates with air traffic control while the navigator ensures we follow desired ground track to the field. The flight engineer runs checklists and the loadmasters scan for threats. We keep our speed up as long as possible, configure close to the airfield and the plane settles onto the runway.
Through all the maneuvering, coordinating and flying I have a sense of deja vu -- with a twist. I’ve done all this before, but never with this group of people. It’s the same, yet different.
I arrived at Ali Base the last week in December and soon set out on my first Operation Iraqi Freedom mission in more than a year. While it was far from my first time flying in combat, it was my first time flying in combat with this crew. In fact, it was my first time flying with this crew -- ever.
I knew little more about them than their name, rank and crew position. This will change over the duration of the deployment, of course. But one might wonder: What enables a crew of people who haven’t flown together before to successfully maneuver an aircraft to accomplish a combat mission?
I believe the answer boils down to the professional integrity of the crewmembers and the support Airmen on the ground. This professional integrity comes from knowing your job, performing your duties to the best of your ability and constantly striving to improve your skills.
From my perspective as a C-130 pilot, I know that each crewmember is trained in specific duties and must be able to perform those duties proficiently. The training and checklists are standardized. Everybody knows what to expect and what’s expected from them, regardless of whether they’ve flown together or not.
Each piece of the puzzle is important, unique and irreplaceable.
My part of the puzzle (and yours) fits into the overall puzzle: Each Air Force Specialty Code having its own unique pieces and each AFSC irreplaceable to the total mission.
Professional integrity allows us to trust that others are doing their jobs correctly, and to accept their product as flawless. I count on the professional integrity of maintenance Airmen, intel Airmen and air terminal operations center Airmen in my job -- to name a few. Being able to trust in their abilities and integrity saves crucial time in a combat zone. This trust is vital to mission accomplishment.
Professional integrity also involves challenging yourself to stay at the top of your game and never growing complacent. The enemy and their weapons are constantly changing. Every Airman must stay ahead of these changes to win the war. Staying in the books and keeping up to speed on latest tactics, techniques and procedures keeps our skills sharp and up to date.
Knowing that you work hard to be your best at your job and trusting others to do the same, that’s the professional integrity that allows us to show up in a combat zone and complete a mission with people we have never worked with. It distinguishes professional warfighters from ordinary citizens.
No matter how your duties fit into the puzzle, you are vital to the Air Force mission. Wherever your piece of the puzzle fits, work hard to bring the entire picture together for mission accomplishment.