From the dugout to the cockpit, a passion for improvement

  • Published
  • By Lt. Colonel Travis Koch
  • 43rd Fighter Squadron commander
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Last summer, I coached my son's baseball team. We were the Red Sox, and I made him wear number 9: Ted Williams' number.

You might not love baseball or know who Ted Williams is, but he is the best hitter to ever play the game. He is one of 14 men to ever win baseball's Triple Crown (combining the season's best batting average, the most home runs hit and the most runs batted in), and he won it twice. Williams' keen eyesight, outstanding hand-eye coordination and intense attention to detail made him one of the most feared bats at the plate.

Those traits also made him a great fighter pilot. Williams flew F-4U Corsairs in World War II, and he also flew 39 combat missions during the Korean War. The one thing he always did, whether on the field or in the air, was improve. Williams routinely talked before games to the other team's best batters and discussed the finer details of hitting. He would also find the best flight instructors at the end of the day and talk for hours about their tactics and techniques. What a great passion for improvement.

Our Enlisted Force Structure (AFI 36-2618) discusses four areas that we as Airmen can be ready to accomplish the mission and areas where we can constantly improve. These four areas are technical, physical, mental, and spiritual readiness.

Technical readiness starts with being able to get the job done. It continues with being the best at it. Just like Ted Williams, seek out those who are great at what you do. Learn how they perform so well and what you need to do to get better.

Physical readiness has been emphasized lately in the Air Force and we can still improve. Look to round out your fitness. If you do nothing but lift weights, work on your endurance or vice versa. And like any good athlete, be conscience of what you eat or drink.

Mental readiness should include things like earning your next degree or reading from the Chief of Staff of the Air Force's reading list. While both of these are important for self-improvement, mental readiness should also help you relieve issues that could prevent you from focusing on the mission. Many times these are personal in nature, but there are a number of resources available to support Airmen.

Finally, per the AFI, spiritual readiness is, "the development of those personal qualities needed to help a person through times of stress, hardship, and tragedy." As Airmen, we cannot tell one another what to believe, but it is our duty to have a solid spiritual foundation. Seek out whatever it is you believe and learn more about it so in times of crisis your footing is firm.

There is a final element in this section stating to "meet all pre-deployment requirements." Are you ready for game-day? A solid foundation in these four areas will get us as individuals fit-to-fight. Where can you improve? Have you written it down to change your ideas into goals? Do you have a Wingman that can keep you accountable during your improvement?

Baseball is a unique sport in that the team takes the field together on defense but each member must perform by themselves at the plate. The better the players are individually as hitters, the more runs the team will score and better their chances to win. Take the time this summer to make sure your readiness is improving and ensure you are on the winning team.