Page 74 - Never Fly Solo

OVER-G | 47
debrief is where true learning occurs. We review everything
about the mission and look for areas to improve our mission
effectiveness. During the debrief, the flight lead who is in
charge of the mission starts off by admitting his or her mis-
takes or blunders in front of the entire team. This paves the
way for others to admit theirs. If a young wingman brand-
new to the squadron makes a mistake (or witnesses a safety
violation from a senior wingman), he will feel more willing to
admit his mistake, give honest feedback, or call out “break
right.” If we are truly committed to excellence, we need to put
our egos aside and hear the truth. When the stakes are high,
rank has no place, in the briefing room or in business.
Your personal integrity is the foundation of the profes-
sional culture you build around yourself. It is the core of your
inner wingman. And having the integrity to admit your mis-
takes—despite the possible hit to your reputation—sends a
clear message: you expect nothing less from those around
you.
When faced with a difficult decision, you cannot go wrong
asking yourself these four questions:

• What does your gut say? You know deep down
whether it feels right.
• How will it affect others? Think of how your actions
(or inaction) will affect your wingmen in both the
near and long term.
• What will the consequences be if I don’t “fess up”
and am found out? Keep the cleanup under your
control as much as possible. You can’t avoid all
consequences, but you can minimize them.
Remember, even a small mess, if left alone,
eventually starts to stink up the entire house. Clean
up your messes quickly.