Time to lead troops back to basics Published March 24, 2011 By Maj. Robert L. Moore Commander, 45th Security Forces Squadron PATRICK AFB, Fla. -- As the 45th Space Wing preps and heads toward its Operational Readiness inspection and Unit Compliance Inspection, many are focused on processes, procedures, and response capabilities. Our bosses have provided their vision and set the environment to ensure a successful inspection. However, what does this mean to the subordinates that have to execute the mission? This will require a concerted effort on the part of each Airman to ensure they, and their wingman, are knowledgeable of their responsibilities and duties related to their jobs. Now is the time to lead troops back to the basics of using Air Force Directives, Instructions, and Checklists to verify we are complying with guidance and guidelines. It is time for our professionals to perform as we know they can, while ensuring all members are held accountable to achieve their best. It is time for those charged with carrying out the wing's mission to raise expectations. While performing our mission, we all should remember many of our subordinates will be observing our actions during increased activity over the next few months and taking impressions from our performances. It is incumbent of leaders to trust and allow their people to lead; that does not relieve leaders of verifying task have been completed. A recent incident revealed to me we can leave impressions on others without realizing it. I was visiting my parents in Tennessee and going through security at the airport on my way back to Florida, a Transportation Security Administration Officer came up to me and asked if I had been deployed to Baghdad International Airport, Iraq. He stated, "I remembered you and knew one day you would be in charge of something." The TSA Officer had been an Airman at a deployed location nearly nine years ago and remembered me. It was humbling to know that he saw me as a leader. John Quincy Adams said, "If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader". I would take this time to encourage leaders to inspire formal and informal leaders to achieve greatness and remember to lead by example; we never know the impressions we leave on others.