Remembering the basics Published Jan. 23, 2014 By Master Sgt. John Payne 13th Intelligence Squadron first sergeant BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- What is the key to Air Force, personal success or fixing problems? It is all basic...or close to it. The answers to many of our challenges are found during that time we spent in Basic Military Training (BMT). Although many of us forget about that time in our lives, I reflect on it often. The principles are simple--teamwork, initiative, resiliency and discipline. During BMT, I recall being terrible at some things and good at others. My teammate in the next bunk would help me make my bed and I would help fold his T-shirts or socks. Every morning, noon, and night, you could see all 48 of us in our bays assisting each other cleaning up, aligning shoes, folding clothes, etc. A lot of this was driven by us not wanting to be yelled at from our instructors but also for the simple fact that we are trying to take care of each other. We had common goals and we were able to achieve those results...together as a one unit. Teamwork was critical then, as it is critical now. Teamwork is imperative in today's world as we look at what we need to do to ensure our mission is met. Our pride ensured every detail would be met. As leaders and followers, we have to continue to work together...as a team. To be successful, working as a team is one thing, but understanding that you had to do it without being told is something else learned. Our Military Training Instructors (MTI) only had to tell us once and we got it. We were constantly asking each other what we needed to do and confirmed how things were supposed to be done. Our MTI showed us how to make the bed one time. Additionally, he only told us what our details were one time. He showed us how to perform drill one time. Of course, he continued to push us to our success, but he let our dorm chief and informal leaders get us to the next level of proficiency. We knew we had to work together and improve because we were told to. We always tried our best but sometimes things did not always work out and that is where our resiliency came into play. Failure is a part of life. In BMT, we failed often as individuals and as a flight. We had a few members that had worked hard on drill and still bobbed and weaved as we marched together. We also had uniform demerits during our inspections. In addition, we were not selected as honor flight. Those were failures, but we were able to learn from that experience and we were better for it now as Airmen. We understand that there are times where we will fail, but it is the fight to do better and improve is what defines us. Resiliency is bouncing back from failure or traumatic events and becoming better for it. However, no matter the failure or trauma, we also have to have the discipline to want to bounce back. The final component that brings everything together is discipline, which in my opinion, is the most valuable aspect learned in BMT. For example, we are disciplined to stand when superiors entered the room. We are disciplined to be honest and work together towards a common goal. We are disciplined to have integrity, to apply service before self, and have excellence in all we do. We are disciplined to have high expectations and standards and work towards achieving them. We are disciplined to have teamwork, initiative, and resiliency. As a SNCO and First Sergeant, I often remind our members in order to succeed; we have to recall those lessons in our initial training. I remind them that we are part of their team, just as they are part of mine. Together, we can accomplish anything we need and want. If we fail, we will get back up to keep fighting, because that is what we are capable of because we all did it in our initial training. We know that when members come out of BMT, they have achieved a high standard, teamwork, initiative, resiliency, and discipline. We understand these concepts. If we do our part as leaders to remember the basics, to push others to get back to the basics, then we will all be successful.