Teamwork:Taking care of the mission and each other! Published Nov. 19, 2010 By Chief Master Sgt. Jimmy Williams 90th Mission Support Group superintendent F. E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, WYO. -- I am certainly not going to try and educate you on what teamwork is, we all get that it takes great teamwork to provide preeminent combat capability across the spectrum of conflict here at the Mighty Ninety. We do a great job of that each day. I want to relay my perspective on teamwork from a not often talked about angle; team support. Webster's Dictionary defines teamwork as work done by several associates with each doing a part but all subordinating personal prominence to the efficiency of the whole. My perspective is simply this: Teamwork is a multi-pronged approach to achieve a common mission or goal. We often relate the mission to the visible work that directly affects weapon systems operations. I believe that equally important is the mission few people ever see, and that is the support behind the scenes. That help not only comes from assisting agencies, but also from family and co-workers. All equal members of the team. Recently, our wing was fortunate to host a visit from Chief Master Sgt. Jack Johnson, command chief, Air Force Global Strike Command. During his visit, the 90th Mission Support Group was able to provide a glimpse into several areas that provide world-class support to our community. I will summarize the awesome support this group provides in a few words: Infrastructure, explosives ordnance disposal, fire protection, support service contracts, communications, logistics, vehicle, career, family, food, fitness, morale and recreation support, and many others. This support is vital to our effectiveness and is what keeps our wing team at the top of the game! Without it, this wing couldn't do its mission. Another aspect equally important to agency support is individual team member support. Meeting the needs of individuals is at the core of building and sustaining a great team. I often mention Air Force Instruction 36-2618, The Enlisted Force Structure, when I address groups during professional enhancement seminars. The "little brown book" is chocked full of what we should be doing to support and take care each other. It covers everything from wingman responsibilities, to promoting responsible behavior, creating a culture of continuous professional development, and being mentally, spiritually and physically ready. It doesn't happen by reading the book alone. We must be involved on a continuous basis. This investment will further strengthen our team and set the pace for our future leaders. The foundation of this whole support system is the family team. The family team is not only your spouse and children; it is also your parents, sisters, and brothers. If your family's needs are not taken care of, it can certainly reduce your effectiveness. Are you able to put some balance between mission and family? There are many great wing support agencies standing by and ready to help you achieve this balance. It is a tough operation to accomplish, yet very critical to our overall mission success. I have witnessed several retirements during my career, and the one very constant theme is the military member simply could not have achieved mission and personal success without the steadfast support of their family team. Finally, I recently spoke with a couple of Airmen to gauge their perspective of teamwork. They stated that teamwork meant helping each other and helping each other succeed, and working together to achieve the same goal. It's that sense of team which will propel our mission success for many years to come. As I reach 28 years of military service, I will say that I am humbled, proud and very thankful to be a part of this great team! Ready to fight anytime, anywhere!