Command Chief shares vision for way ahead

(UNDISCLOSED LOCATION)

10.24.2009

Story by Staff Sgt. David Dobrydney 

379th Air Expeditionary Wing

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SOUTHWEST ASIA -- When 379th Air Expedi-tionary Wing Command Chief Master Sgt. David Green first arrived in Southwest Asia in June, his first goal was to learn as much as he could about the wing's mission.

"It's very dynamic so we constantly have to revisit where we're going to make sure the wing commander is happy with the pace of efforts," he said.

The ability to focus on the mission is an advantage Green found in serving as a deployed command chief. "In the AOR you don't have as many distractions," he said. "At home station there are awards to process, conferences to attend, issues coming at you from every angle. Here most of those distractions are taken away."

Now that he has completed one-third of his year long tour, Green is focusing on his next challenge.

"I would like to have all the different organizations and units operating here to be more in concert," he said. "We all have competing priorities but we're all working toward the same goal. Opening up lines of communication is something very important to me."

"If I can do that, it will be much easier for my replacement to roll in and be successful right away." In order to accomplish his goal, Green is aided by the knowledge he brings from two career fields, security forces and mental heath. From his time in the latter career field, he learned to appreciate the power of communication. In contrast to those who lead through volume, Green said a more effective way "is to use your personal skill set to motivate each person to do the job you need them to do. Give them the tools to self-motivate."

So far in his deployment, the chief has had success in helping Joint and Coalition units here work more closely together, citing cooperation between the 379th Expeditionary Maintenance Group and the Royal Australian Air Force as just one example.

"The way to accomplish anything is to cultivate relationships, reaching a common purpose and establishing trust so that if you have an issue, you know who to call to help resolve it," the chief said.

When servicemembers are communicating, they become a more effective team. Green knows the value of a well disciplined team from his time in the security forces career field.

"A good team works well together," he said. "They look out for each other and always put forth a professional front to those in the outside community."

In order to become that effective team, Green had four messages he wanted to impart to the enlisted personnel here.

"First and foremost," Green said, "is the need for strict focus on the mission. We must have that every day and at every level, from each and every person," he said. Second, he urged all servicemembers to comply with established procedures, but be willing to speak up if there's room for improvement. "If they identify a problem with [a procedure]," Green said, "there's a method to go up the chain and change it."

Next, the chief mentioned the ever-present need for safety in the course of daily duties. "Safety must be the first consideration in every task we do," he said.

Finally, while servicemembers here have much work to do, there is a need for downtime. "Take the opportunity to enrich your life," Green said. "Take a college course, learn about another career field or a sister service. If you leave here and all you can say is, 'I worked hard', you've missed out."

Throughout the remainder of his tour here, Green plans to continue being the leader who allows servicemembers to do their jobs better.

"It's a great pleasure for me to be here," he said. "I've been given this fantastic opportunity and I'm doing everything I can to make a difference."