Current, upcoming mission-tasks require focus, dedication Published July 13, 2007 By Lt. Col. Bruce Roehm 62nd Medical Support Squadron commander MCCHORD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- Are you ready? Much should be on your radar screen requiring you to be prepared: permanent-change-of-station season, summer vacation, safety as we are one-third of the way through the 101 Critical Days of Summer, deployments as they continue unabated in support of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom, Air Mobility Command's Rodeo just around the corner and then the unit compliance inspection in January 2008. It is easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer velocity of today's ops tempo. Personal readiness is paramount and directly correlated to the strength of one's character -- intellectually and physically as well as mentally and emotionally. Further, your readiness contributes to the overall readiness of your element, flight, squadron, group and wing. You are an integral part of the team that is Team McChord. We are depending on you, and you are critical to our success, so we can meet the mission and excel. Are you ready? Here are a few questions to ask yourself: Do I have or am I working to obtain the proper skills and knowledge? Am I physically fit, and do I have goals to improve my fitness level? Do I have the right equipment and training to do my job? Do I have a personal and family plan just in case? There are many ways to be ready. Intellectually, this could be taking a class through the education and training center on base, reading and rereading technical orders, Air Force Instructions, career development course volumes and staying current with world events. Physically, being fit is becoming an imperative and soon to be an explicit part of performance reports. It isn't just about running one-and-a-half miles and doing crunches and push-ups for your annual physical training test. It requires your pursuit of a fit lifestyle by eating healthy, striving for a healthy weight and setting goals that keep you excited about fitness which may be to include swimming and hiking as cardio alternatives. Whereas these two factors contribute greatly to your overall mental and emotional quotient, you must also consider the state of your personal matters such as a will, special powers of attorney and family care plans. Sustain your sense of family and friends. Spend quality time with them and ensure they can take care of themselves in your absence when we ask you to deploy or work overtime placing service before self to prepare for or execute a showcase event like Rodeo or the UCI. So if you see any issues for yourself or your immediate team in being ready, don't walk past the problem, keep your integrity in check, and help us grow by adapting, overcoming, leading, mentoring and coaching yourself through the issue. Take pride when you are ready, and accomplish the mission by demonstrating excellence. The Air Force's power comes from its Airmen ... the strength of that chain is dependent on you. Are you ready?