Training to Win

  • Published
  • By Col William Phillips

Airmen are the weapon system we rely on each and every day to make the mission happen.   In order to fulfill our duty to perform the mission, we must be prepared in many ways.  Whether it is our primary career field and the task at hand, functioning under a variety of conditions and environments, or on the home front and in our work centers with our families and our close friends and coworkers--enhancing our operational effectiveness is paramount.  

A key and essential ingredient to readiness across all spectrums is training.   We have to invest our time and efforts in order to see the fruits of our labor and realize the pay off.  The return on the investment of training is a unified team of professional Airmen who are able to project and sustain agile combat airlift across the world at a moment’s notice.  Indeed, training is how we maximize our investment.  Prioritizing training allows Airmen to become the best version of themselves: Airmen that can not only confidently handle all their responsibilities and duties, but present innovative solutions to challenges presented.   As we progress as a team, there are several tactics and techniques for developing and shaping a successful training program, and I have outlined below five basic tips that have helped many organizations to perfect their programs:

1.  Identify clear goals and outcomes 

2.  Develop engaging and realistic training resources

3.  Establish a consistent schedule

4.  Seek participation in developing training plans and feedback for improvement

5.  Bridge the gap between knowledge and action

Honing our focus on continuous improvement will remain a central theme across the Air Force and our Wing.  Each and every one of us deserves to be ready, our teammates deserve to be ready, and our family, friends, and fellow citizens expect us to be ready.   So, get motivated, seek out training, and invest in yourself and your fellow Airmen!