No better team … period

  • Published
  • By Col. Sharon Bannister
  • 436th Medical Group commander
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  If you go into the office of most senior leaders, you'd be hard pressed to find one who doesn't have a copy of at least one book on leadership in the top drawer of his or her desk. My experiences here at Dover, however, have provided so many real world leadership and teamwork lessons that I've found my need for reading them has decreased drastically.

I can say without hesitation, I've never worked with a stronger team, and with each challenge thrown our way, I continue to be amazed at what Team Dover can do. Though there are many examples, I want to share excerpts from an email I sent to our Air Force Surgeon General on Aug. 10, 2011, the day after the largest Dignified Transfer in Dover AFB's history.

"Don't really remember where the days started and where they ended since Saturday morning when we got the word of the helicopter going down, but do know that when my eyes closed last night just shy of 0200, I didn't have the energy to take off my uniform. Yesterday was a whirlwind...with everyone from the SECDEF (Secretary of Defense) and POTUS to hundreds of SOF SEALS, Airmen, and Soldiers being here along with the hundreds of family members who came to see their loved ones touch ground on US soil. Went well, though lots of Dover AFB heart, soul, sweat, and tears were expended the two-and-a-half days prior to put together. It was incredible watching our Airmen work and evident that you don't need a title at Dover AFB to be a leader. Active Duty and Reserve worked hand in hand with AFMAO (Air Force Mortuary Affairs Office) to orchestrate an event that had never before been done. MXG (436th Maintenance Group) was figuring out how to unload 2 planes in one transfer and what hangar to use, MSG (436th Mission Support Group) was busy preparing the base for one of the most significant events Dover has seen--security, communication needs, food, and shelter, OG (436th Operations Group) was figuring out how to orchestrate flight arrivals and parking for some of the our highest leaders all within an hour time frame, and protocol was figuring out how to best utilize our Colonels to be sure all 30+ high level DVs (distinguished visitors) were met when they landed. Our medics were integral to the day being (as the President stated) "flawless". Was humbling to have the Presidential Medical Team say that we didn't have to talk much when they arrived because "everyone knows that Dover sets the standard to which others strive to achieve". They did request one of our Ambulance Response Team's support in the Presidential motorcade, and the remainder were strategically positioned in the hangar and around base to ensure that no medical issues caused a distraction. As always, my medics made me proud...as did the rest of our Dover team. No one from the outside would have known that we don't do this every day. It was "flawless" because the team--including leaders from every AFSC (Air Force specialty code) -- made sure that nothing was left to chance. And each stood back at the end of the day knowing that the hard work paid off in spades. The focus was where it needed to be -- on bringing these heroes home.

Surreal part was that a 747 landed within 30 minutes of POTUS takeoff, and I then ran the next Dignified Transfer bringing home two Marines and a Soldier. Our Dover team was there to support--as they always are. What hit home, though, was when one of the SOF planes took off after our first movement and prior to the second. An officer flying out came up and hugged me with tears in his eyes before getting on his plane (he and his fellow Airmen watched the movement from the PAX terminal) and said, "doesn't matter who's here...you do the transfers all the same for our brothers coming home, don't you?" Was a memorable end to a terribly long day because I knew that our team went out with the same professionalism and honor as the first movement so many hours earlier in front of POTUS and the hundreds of family members and SEALS. All I can say is wow...

Now the real work begins. With all of the cases intermingled, we have a job to do. Our medics were at AFMAO until just shy of 11 p.m. and will start back this morning around 7 a.m. I plan to spend some time over there helping as well. As some of you know, my Dad's remains were ID'd through dental forensics after his F4 crash in Laos--but not until 35 years later. As I stood next to the families during the transfer, I knew I was going to be able to give back what someone gave to me in 2007 and I'd be lying if I didn't admit I had tears flowing throughout the transfers yesterday because of it."

Each of our Colonels has expressed their rendition of the preparation and execution of the Chinook Dignified Transfer for our lost Special Ops fallen in their own way--Col. Thomas Kauth gave an incredible talk at the most recent Airmen Leadership School graduation and another wrote the most touching review of the day I've read to date on his Facebook page (yep, I cried)--but the part I find fascinating, is that it doesn't matter who tells the story...we all agree that we are part of the strongest team we've ever worked with. God has blessed me with the opportunities I've been given throughout my career, and I'm very proud and honored to serve along side of the men and women of Dover Air Force Base. With each new challenge, our Airmen continue to amaze me. I had my commentary written, thinking that there was no better example of the unique teamwork exhibited during the preparation and flawless execution of the largest Dignified Transfer in Dover history. And yet here I am putting final touches on my article in the Installation Control Center during Hurricane Irene...again, working with an incredibly talented group of Airmen who spent the last few days preparing as a team to ensure Dover will be able to be mission ready tomorrow. There is no better team than what we have here at Dover...period.