Team Dover efforts ‘Super Bowl’ worthy

  • Published
  • By Chief Master Sgt. John P. Wood
  • 436th AW command chief
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Earlier this month, I took an evening off to watch the Super Bowl. As I sat in my living room, I watched quarterback Ben Roethlisberger lead the Pittsburg Steelers to victory with a set of broken ribs. I thought to myself, "Now there is a guy willing to give it all to lead his team to victory."

I am not what most would call a Steelers "fan," but I still recognize motivation and winning attitude when I see it. What I saw on that football field that day reminded me of what I see around Dover Air Force Base everyday - a team of men and women working together to make the base and community second to none.

If we compare Team Dover's accomplishments in 2008 to a football season, we would have certainly deserved the National Football League's Lombardi Trophy. Team Dover was honored with very significant awards this year, including the coveted Commander-in-Chief's Annual Award for Installation Excellence.

Today a few members of Team Dover will be individually honored at Dover Downs during the 2009 Annual Awards ceremony. I'd say that amounts to a gigantic touchdown for the base and these Airmen.

As your command chief, I am often charged with reviewing award packages and sorting through assigned Airmen's playbooks with a fine-toothed comb. It's remarkable seeing what our Airmen are accomplishing ... they are truly saving lives and delivering freedom around the world. We are loaded with dedicated professionals who are truly at the top of their game ... that's what makes us the team everyone else in the Air Force strives to be.

Like members of a football team, every Team Dover member has a critical role to play if the team is to win. We can't be complacent, nor can we rely on others to get the job done. Regardless of what your job is, you've got to take it upon yourself to step up and play your best if this team is to secure its victory.

Winners continue to prepare themselves technically, mentally, physically and spiritually, not just before the big game, but all the time. A winner puts on their uniform with pride because they know the patches they wear, and the team the play for, is much bigger than themselves.

Nobody can afford to watch from the sidelines. Instead, we all must be on the field, so when one of our Wingman falls down or fumbles the ball, we can pick it up and continue to run. Tonight, once again, we celebrate our victories Team Dover. Tomorrow, we hit the field and continue to play!