Fly-Fight-Win initiative aims to help Airmen stay focused

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Kedesha Pennant
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Even before basic military training and putting on the uniform, an oath is taken to uphold the Air Force's core values - integrity first, service before self and excellence in all we do. However, when this oath is irrevocably broken due to poor choices, the question is, "Was it really worth it?"

Maybe if Airmen think back to why they joined the Air Force and their goals and aspirations, these values will continue to be upheld. So why did they join the Air Force?

"I want to be a super hero, so I feel I get to serve in that capacity being an Airman," said Airman 1st Class Chandler Johnson, 7th Contracting Squadron commodity flight contract administrator.

"I joined to provide stability for my family," said Senior Airman Rachel Janezich, 7th Comptroller Squadron financial services technician. "I was already married with two kids, and it was a struggle for us with the economy the way it was at the time. I was halfway done with my bachelor's degree, so being able to finish school debt-free also played a role in joining the Air Force."

The Fly-Flight-Win initiative is a new concept developed by members of the Dyess Integrated Delivery System to help strengthen the connection of Airmen to the Air Force and its heritage. It emphasizes the importance of CAF skills and social relationships, which help Airmen stay focused and resist negative influences. The program also provides tools needed to stay resilient when faced with hardship. The target audience is for first-term Airmen with the rank of senior airman and below, which makes up approximately 45 percent of the Air Force.

"The Fly-Fight-Win program is a beneficial approach to inform Airmen and help them fully understand what they do really matters to the Dyess mission," said Senior Airman Abbey Damore, 436th Training Squadron instructional media designer.

The program educates Airmen on their role to the advancement of the Air Force, Air Force Global Strike Command and Dyess mission. Each job is vital to overall mission success and comes with great responsibility while requiring fine-tuned expertise Airmen have attained through extensive training. Every Airman counts and are what makes the Air Force innovative, diverse and a dominating force.

During the beginning of the session, Chief Master Sgt. Aaron Bennett, 7th Bomb Wing command chief, talked about the importance of teamwork and how there are a lot of stressors in the Air Force including physical fitness tests and the new enlisted performance report system. 

"We can't complete the mission alone," Bennett said. "This is a team effort, and that's why we need you here for support. If our Airmen feel stressed, there are many avenues we can find and that we also provide at Dyess to encourage them to relieve stress and resist peer pressure."

These avenues include Comprehensive Airman Fitness and 7th Force Support Squadron activities such as 5K fun runs, team-building competitions, sports tournaments, free movies and outdoor recreation events. Other options include monthly discounted trips to Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and other cities that offer amusement parks, indoor skydiving, zip lining and other forms of entertainment. Furthermore, there are multiple volunteer opportunities to give back to the Abilene community, who has supported the base since its inception.

Poor choices and bad judgement have led some Airmen to lose focus on their contribution to the Air Force mission and service commitment to the Air Force, and instead place personal desires above the Air Force core values. These issues include drug use, underage drinking, alcohol-related incidents and assault.

"With the many duties and responsibilities, we can easily lose sight of the overall Air Force mission and its purpose," said Bob Sayer, 7th Bomb Wing community support coordinator. "Our first-term Airmen are the most susceptible because they are still learning their primary jobs and what is expected of them as a member of the larger Air Force team.

First-line supervisors play a significant role in mentoring their Airmen and leading them down a path of success. Units should also exemplify a positive working environment to foster a culture of wingmanship.

"Fly-Fight-Win was developed as a way to enhance what Airmen already experience through daily interaction with their supervisors and units," Sayer said. "It helps to emphasize that no matter who we are or where we work in the Air Force, we look out for each other." 

The initiative also urges first-term Airmen to continue making the right decisions and to seek help from available resources offered on base when in conflict. Additionally, Bennett challenged junior Airmen to step up as leaders and mentors to help peers who are faced with making a career-altering decision.

"There is nothing worse than falling into a trap that leads to ending your Air Force career," Damore said. "It's our responsibility to think twice when faced with adversity or stress and to be a wingman to one another to prevent poor choices."