Aircraft Association and Technology Published Jan. 19, 2010 By Major Brian W. Scott II Commander 141st CF FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- As the 92nd and 141st Air Refueling Wings are associating operations by flying and maintaining the same aircraft, the two communication units are merging computer networks into one. Association takes a lot of work and it is important to keep in mind there is a wide variance of viable ways to move forward. Regardless of the paths we could have taken, two independent units learning to operate one network is starting to benefit Fairchild beyond the fiscal efficiencies intended by Base Realignment and Closure. - Organizational Focus - Rather than each unit fighting to hold on to duplicate responsibilities, we continue to determine what needs to be done on the base and specialize in these areas. Both units are focusing on primary areas of responsibility to maximize efficiency, yet maintain proficiency in other supporting areas. Due to our limited manpower, this approach lines up naturally with Air Force Smart Operations of the 21st Century principles. - Deployed Operations - The 92nd Communications Squadron is authorized backfills due to deployments. This is a manpower shortfall but can also help a traditional Air National Guard member such as a local university student. In this case both units work together to manage the Airman's work and what needs to be done for Fairchild. There is also a way for 141st Communication Flight personnel to actually fill 92nd AEF requirements for guardsmen seeking additional deployment opportunities. - Social Support - This summer, the 92d CS passed the hat to host a barbecue honoring a Canadian civil engineering unit and the 141st CES immediately following the remodel of an integrated facility for both units. Both communications units combined their Christmas parties and the 92nd CS rented out the family FunSpot, inviting 141st CF families along. These types of gestures have helped to cement good dynamics that translate into strong professional working relationships. The key to getting here was avoiding preconceived notions of where this should go and willingness to change the plan on the fly. Both units are over-tasked and undermanned to keep up with the pace of technological changes, daily troubleshooting and downward directed information technology initiatives. Due to these limitations, we have developed a "divide and conquer" organizational focus. Now it is a matter of creating new processes to improve our daily operations. For example, the 92nd CS has already taken responsibility of all radios and the 141st CF will be responsible for all wireless networks. The Help Desks have combined to assist each other. The 92nd CS will be the primary network administrators and the 141st will be primary on telephony systems. The Air Force is taking notice of the relationship. With this recognition came new funded projects. Fairchild is now being reengineered with four separate, major upgrades to infrastructure, wireless technologies, telephone and network systems that will be finished before the close of 2010. We certainly have differences, but the trick has been to avoid the natural tendency of over-focusing on those differences. We have more in common than we sometimes think and that's what we need to focus on to accomplish the mission. The ANG is relatively slower to change and the active duty moves at a quicker pace. These qualities can offer an opportunity for another combined strength. Airmen like me who have a strong personal or family history at the 141st ARW are directly vested in today's decisions for the next 20 years or more. Airmen like my counterpart, Maj. Melissa Cunningham, 92nd CS commander, have a large quantity of fast-paced experiences abroad and thrive on making things happen. We are able to join perspectives and move forward at a good pace, but with long-term focus toward improving Fairchild communications operations for many years to come. Special recognition should be given to the NCOICs of both organizations for finding new ways to work together and to avoid pitfalls of legacy empires. The main point to take away is the two organizations have averted focus on areas of friction by approaching all Fairchild communications issues as a single challenge and finding solutions collectively.