Ready, Willing, Able! Published Sept. 8, 2015 By Capt. David Bishop 436th Operations Group DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- Do you know the history of your unit? Can you recount the deeds of the members of your unit who came before you? Seventy-two years from now, when the future members of your former unit are carrying on the legacy of your squadron, group, and wing will they know of your extraordinary efforts? You may not realize it but the actions of those who came before you are just as important as the hard work that you put in each and every day. Like those who came before you, someday your daily conduct will become a vital part in the legacy that we all share a responsibility in continuing. I once had a squadron commander who did something profound, and for the rest of my career I will always find his example of leadership particularly remarkable. This commander, with great purpose and intent, imbued a deep sense of pride in the members of the squadron that he was responsible for leading. This may not seem so remarkable on the surface, but that result in the dynamic environment that is our military is not always a predetermined outcome. As a younger officer, and new to the unit, I took the overwhelming sense of pride and camaraderie I found in that particular squadron for granted. I assumed that all squadrons shared this sense of purpose and it not only made me proud of my unit but it also made me take ownership of my work. It was not until a few years later when the unit seemed to lose its spark that I realized just how important the commander's influence was on my squadron members and me. As a growing leader, I often reflect on how the successful leaders in my life were able to effectively utilize the art and science of leadership to achieve their desired goals. The lesson I learned from this particular commander was the importance of creating a unifying factor for those you are attempting to lead. In this instance the unifying factor was a deep seeded appreciation for the incredible lineage that made up the history of my previous squadron. The symbol on our patch became our mascot; the sound it made was our distinct rallying cry. The earliest roots of the squadron gave birth to a heritage patch that we proudly displayed and which clearly distinguished us from those around us. The results of these efforts generated an almost palpable appreciation for those who had borne that same emblem before us, but it also created an understanding that our own actions could someday be remembered in a similar fashion. In short, we took pride in our work because we recognized that our actions might someday have a similar impact on those who would follow in our footsteps. With this train of thought I recently decided to get more familiar with my current group's history. Truthfully, I knew very little about the lineage of the 436th Operations Group until I did what all good researchers do, I Googled it. What my extensive research revealed was a set of achievements that made me truly appreciate being a member of the Operations Group. Seventy-two years ago the 436 Troup Carrier Group was activated in April of 1943, the motto emblazoned on their patch in Latin was, "Ready, Willing, Able." Believe it or not, members of this great unit probably found themselves lost in what can often be the monotony of preparation for combat and the minutia that is quite factually a part of military service. Despite these truths, less than a year after activation the members of the TCG would fly their C-47 Skytrains to air drop paratroopers from the 82nd Army Airborne Division over the beaches of Normandy at the start of D-Day. The 436th would continue to serve with distinction during World War II to include participating in operations in Holland, southern France, and the invasion of Italy. The extraordinary efforts of the 436th Operations Group's founding members were awarded with the Distinguished Unit Citation for their efforts during D-Day. The members of that great generation began the legacy that all of the future Operations Group members would be responsible for enriching. The 436th TCG's name would change many times over the next few decades but regardless of the title, members would continue to deliver excellence. The storied history of the Operations Group would continue to be written in operations such as NICKEL GRASS, the removal of Manuel Noriega from Panama, DESERT SHIELD, DESERT STORM, ALLIED FORCE, the almost invasion of Haiti, and the Dayton Peace accords in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Ops Group members also participated in humanitarian efforts during the Taiwan earthquake, to areas destroyed by Hurricane Andrew, and even delivered supplies to Somalia in Operation RESTORE HOPE. The list is much larger and I strongly encourage you to seek out and appreciate the efforts of those who came before you. The operations of recent memory need not be mentioned because it is here, my fellow members of the 436th Operations Group, that we will cement our own actions in the storied legacy of our group. I can only assume that the founding members of our organization could not comprehend how their individual efforts could impact the history of the world, but they did. As I indicated earlier, your daily efforts have a similar effect whether you know it or not. And whether you are flying, loading, controlling, fixing survival equipment, or fulfilling the countless other jobs that comprise this operations group, know that your efforts matter. Take pride in your work, take pride in yourself, and take pride in your unit so that seventy-two years from now our replacements will know that we were Ready, Willing, Able!