Everyone loves an underdog

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. David O'Malley
  • 325th Operations Support Squadron commander
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Everyone loves an underdog. Think back through history - those compelling stories where the improbable becomes true, despite all the cards being stacked against them. There are tales full of emotion where those involved share tears of joy mixed with self-confident surprise.

Think back to Super Bowl XLII. The undefeated New England Patriots rode high into Glendale, Ariz., to take on the lackluster New York Giants. To call the Giants an underdog would be an understatement. Most believed the game was won by the Patriots long before they took the field. Yet, the Giants knew they had more than just a chance; they believed in their own ability. In the end, an improbable reception across the middle with only one minute and 15 seconds remaining on the clock, put the Giants in position for eventual victory.

Another amazing example came from the 2004 American League Championship series. The Boston Red Sox, absent a World Series crown since 1918, were down three games to none against their arch nemesis - the New York Yankees. Although die-hard fans maintained faith, no one gave the Red Sox a realistic chance of winning one game, much less four straight games to defeat the Yankees and make it to the World Series. After all, the Yankees were unstoppable. Well . . . the Red Sox not only won the next four games, but the next eight and claimed their first World Series title in more than 80 years.

Such stories extend beyond teams to individuals. There's the movie, Rudy, taking the real-life story of a football player whom no one ever expected to attend the University of Notre Dame, much less play football for them. Rudy persevered and, despite all the challenges, made it to both Notre Dame and onto their football team. These stories of underdog victors don't only surround sports. There's Harry Truman and his presidential victory in the 1948 election and our very own Colonial Army during the revolution against the British. There's even the story of the tortoise and the hare.

So, can we extend the term "underdog" to our very own Air Force? Should others ceremoniously pledge their support our direction? At the outset, it may appear that we do not deserve much support in the underdog category. The U.S. Air Force has a record of success that stretches back to its inception as the Army Air Corps. The American public provides us the greatest financial support of any other nation and our technology is second to none. We certainly resemble those New England Patriots from Super Bowl XLII and the 2004 New York Yankees, loaded at every position.

At the same time, look at the challenges we face in our future, many of which, seem equally insurmountable. The global economy continues to impact our nation's recovery. Budgets are either flat, or in decline. Global instability furthers the uncertainty in future missions and requirements. Other nations have increased the speed from which they aim to equal, and then surpass the advantages we've worked to secure today. Draw-downs in Iraq and Afghanistan have helped reduce the pace of deployed operations for the other services, but the Air Force continues to feel the strain of continuous combat operations.

These challenges make us more like the underdog than one may initially think. We must rely on the same elements for success that the victorious underdogs from years past have counted on. We must believe in the abilities of our own people. You see, those victories had nothing to do with luck, and everything to do with preparation. Despite the challenges we face each and every day, it is our training, preparation and perseverance that will enable our Air Force to overcome the future challenges we will meet. In the end, our people are our greatest asset - the greatest in the world. No matter what challenge will be thrown our direction in the future; we will face that challenge together . . . and together, this underdog will remain unbeatable.