Outstanding is an attitude Published April 2, 2013 By Col. John Wilson 71st Flying Training Wing vice commander VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- As I left a recent, impromptu office call with Public Affairs, Staff Sgt. James Bolinger politely pulled me aside and pointed out my laces had come out of my boots. I was out of regs. I quickly fixed it and thanked him for his professionalism. Outstanding! Just last Sunday afternoon, my wife and I were headed to Oklahoma City with Col. Darren James, the 71st Flying Training Wing commander, his wife Melissa and their daughter McKenna. As we were driving off the base, we watched Airman 1st Class Daniel Rodriguez with the 71st Security Forces Squadron returning to his post with a large piece of a plastic bag he had just removed from the base fence. Our famous Oklahoma winds had likely blown it into the fence the night prior, but he was the first to act and took it upon himself to do something about it. We stopped to say thanks for his initiative. Outstanding! Lastly, while working through my deployment checklist, I walked into the 71st SFS Mobility building. As I strolled around the facility, one of our government civilians came out of his office and asked if he could help. When I told him I was looking for the Mobility folks, he said, "Follow me," and walked me to the appropriate place. Outstanding! Outstanding is an attitude. It is in our cultural DNA. The last statement in our core values is "Excellence in all we do." Yet, when was the last time you stepped in when you saw someone out of regs, acted when someone failed to render appropriate customs and courtesies, picked up a stray piece of trash or got out of your chair when you noticed an individual that looked like they needed assistance? If you can't remember, start today. Change your attitude to Outstanding! Years back, I read an officer performance report with a great comment that stated, "This officer never walked past a problem." How concise and profound. I would ask all of us to try adopting this approach. Never walk past a problem. If there is a safety hazard, we stop and fix it or get assistance. When we see a piece of trash, we pick it up. If one of our coworkers looks like they are having a rough day, we step in and see if we can help. It is an individual approach and a team effort. Starting today, if none of us ever walks past a problem, soon there will be significantly fewer problems. Monday, the Consolidated Unit Inspection Team arrives here in Enid, America. The wing can receive one of five overall grades: Unsatisfactory, Marginal, Satisfactory, Excellent or Outstanding! At this point, we've done all we can do on our self-inspection checklists and we've signed the last appointment letter. Our compliance grade is largely written. Yet, one area we can affect at every moment between their arrival and departure is the inspection team's perception of Team Vance. Their perception is highly dependent on the attitude this wing puts forth. During our last compliance inspection, this wing took a downgrade because in the span of a week-long inspection, the inspectors saw one individual fail to render appropriate customs and courtesies, one individual carrying an unapproved backpack, one officer failing to appropriately put on a flight cap prior to leaving a building, and finally, a couple of individuals in civilian clothes jogging on base roads while wearing earphones. I wonder how many Team Vance members had an opportunity to politely intervene with a spot correction, yet didn't. I'm sure there are also some who read about the folks in civilian clothes and thought, "That shouldn't count. They were probably dependents." Crush that attitude. Just like cell phone usage while driving, it is a base regulation and all Vance members, military or otherwise, are required to comply. For these seemingly minor discrepancies, Vance received a Satisfactory. If only one or two Vance members had decided they would not walk past a problem and acted, the wing's grade may have been elevated to an Excellent or Outstanding! Even better, if the inspectors had seen just one Vance member step up and take action, it would have demonstrated loud and clear we demand a culture of compliance from all members of our own team. Additionally, at the recent CUI at Columbus AFB, Miss., the Air Education and Training Command inspector general walked into a squadron that the wing's leadership had previously touted as superior. When he entered the facility, he watched that squadron's members and leadership turn and retreat into their offices. Instead of being proactive and proud of their accomplishments, they walked away. It was a telling message. Here at Vance, I expect each and every one of you to welcome newcomers to our base with enthusiasm. The inspection team is no exception. They are on a short timeline and likely don't know where to go. Take the initiative, walk up, introduce yourself and ask if you can help. When they leave, I want them to look back and wish they were staying. Be positive and show how proud you are of your organization and your contribution to the wing's mission. Be Outstanding! Outstanding is an attitude. It is our attitude. It is what separates Team Vance from the rest. It is what makes this wing the premier training wing in the Air Force. The commander, the command chief (Chief Master Sgt. Mark Aman), and I, empower each and every one of you to conquer challenges at the lowest level. Don't walk past a problem. Attack it head on. We don't take this approach only when the inspection team is in town. We make the decision to live up to our core values each and every day. I am monumentally proud of the contributions each of you make on a daily basis to Develop, Deliver, and Deploy...enabling our great Air Force to Fly, Fight and Win! Let's demonstrate to the AETC inspectors that Team Vance is clearly Outstanding!