Incirlik: A dynasty of success Published May 1, 2015 By Chief Master Sgt. Willard Armagost 39th Medical Group superintendent INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- Have you ever wondered how some sports teams have had many years of great success, known as a dynasty? I am reminded of my beloved Huskers, who had a dynasty back in the 90s. I argue that the same is true for the U.S. Air Force and more specifically Team Incirlik. So, what is it that makes us successful year in and year out? It is a simple answer, but one that we should revisit from time to time as a reminder. I will present three ideas as to why I feel that we are a dynasty here at Incirlik and ultimately in the U. S. Air Force. I believe first and foremost that great leadership is pivotal for a successful dynasty. Leadership is what provides a team with clear guidance, directions and effectively communicates those directions. It also sets the pace and tone, then provides course correction as needed to accomplish the mission. Leadership is also responsible for providing hope and inspiration to keep its people motivated. This is all done by recognizing and rewarding those who demonstrate greatness, while holding members responsible and accountable for the mission and team. Secondly, I would offer that teams with success have an adage of "practice like you play." To perform at the maximum level, we must practice our skills and stay proficient in our duties without taking any short cuts. I would say that we have that same mindset here, when we train, exercise and perform our daily duties; we do so with the same intensity and professionalism that is expected of us allowing us to be the best. This is also the area where we train tomorrow's leaders. Essentially we are training our replacements and this is critical function in maintaining the legacy that was set before us. The last reason why we are successful is continuity. Continuity is defined as the unbroken and consistent existence or operation of something over a period of time. The key to maintaining our continuity is creativity, innovation and flexibility, all of which gives us the dynamic edge over our competitors. We are the best at what we do and it is because of our continuity that we have been doing since our inception way back in 1947. When we all do our part, we make Team Incirlik better, and ultimately the Air Force. In closing, we must never lose sight of what our goal is. We are warriors and our mission is to "Fly, Fight and Win!" We can and will be successful with the team we have, if we incorporate the three elements mentioned: great leadership, "practice like you play" and continuity. In the words of Tom Osborne, University of Nebraska's winningest coach, "The odds are always against you no matter what your previous history is. You have to overcome the tendency to relax". As we move forward, we must not let complacency creep in and destroy our dynasty.