Photo By Master Sgt. Patrick O'Reilly | Tech. Sgt. Bradley Fryman, 445th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron communication...... read more read more
One of the most important aspects of service that makes Airmen formidable and allows the Air Force to excel is experience. Every Airman’s journey is unique and there are many who began their military service in other branches of the armed forces. Many leadership skills translate well from other services, and having diverse Airmen with diverse experiences provides tangible benefits for Air Force. For important and varied career fields like maintenance, these experiences give Airmen the opportunity to learn, grow and lead.
Staff Sgt. Ryan Davis, 445th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron avionics specialist and former Army infantryman, said he’s enjoyed his transition from the Army to the Air Force Reserve and that it’s been a great experience to pass on the leadership skills he learned in the Army.
“It’s fulfilling to have the opportunity to work at being a good leader, to help guide others in balancing their responsibilities. It allows us to expedite the learning process a little bit and get people on the fast track to success,” Davis said.
Davis was a mortar gunner in the Army infantry. He credits his ability to effectively contribute to the 445th Airlift Wing with his experiences. One of the most important takeaways he brought over from his prior service was the importance of leadership.
“It’s rewarding to take past experiences and help others learn from your successes and your mistakes,” said Davis. “That’s what being a leader is all about.”
Given the demand placed on the skills of Airmen in the maintenance field, it’s important that leaders can manage maintenance activities and rely on their Airmen to lead from the front. Davis believes that small team leadership skills that were his focus in the Army contribute to his current view of the Air Force.
“I enjoy doing hands on work and being involved in the process, and I enjoy working in small teams and building relationships with the Airmen I work with,” said Davis. “I really appreciate the professionalism of the Air Force at every level. People have taken me under their wing and now I have the opportunity to take younger Airmen under my wing and pay it forward by sharing my experiences with them,” Davis said.
The responsibilities of maintenance Airmen are an integral part of the wing mission. From inspecting and troubleshooting equipment to making hands-on repairs and maintaining proper standards, these professionals make sure 445th planes are always ready for flight. Having maintenance Airmen with experience in other branches allows the supplements the Air Force with experience from around the total force.
Another important skill that Airmen learn and apply daily is time management. Different branches operate in ways that can provide unique challenges and can inform how Airmen with that prior experience tackle the day-to-day challenges of the Air Force.
“Some of the most important skills that are needed in today’s environment are time management and the ability to prioritize activities,” said Tech. Sgt. Bradley Fryman, a communication and navigation technician with the 445th AMXS and prior Navy maintainer.
“What we do requires us to manage stress and also meet and hopefully exceed expectations. How we look at leadership plays a huge role in making our maintenance activities a success,” said Fryman.
Fryman believes his experience working on aircraft aboard aircraft carriers helped develop his leadership skills and gave him a passion for problem solving. He sees good leadership as a means of accomplishing the mission and setting up younger Airmen for success.
“How we view leadership is key to not getting bogged down with problems and finding solutions instead,” said Fryman. “It was a great choice to come here to the 445th, and I am thankful for the experiences that I have had and the opportunities that I have to bring that experience to the table. I feel like my transition from the Navy to the Air Force allowed me to carry over skills and knowledge to what we do here in ways that they otherwise wouldn’t,” Fryman said.
The valuable contributions made to the Air Force by prior service Airmen from other branches is corroborated by their leadership. Senior Master Sgt. Gerald Sandoval, 445th AMXS aircraft maintenance unit flight chief, sees these Airmen and their experiences as positive additions to the squadron.
“What I immediately noticed from both Staff Sgt. Davis and Tech Sgt. Fryman was how they utilized some of their culture and skillsets learned as an Army infantry soldier and a Navy aviation technician,” said Sandoval. “They have definitely been noticed by their teammates as well as supervisors as excellent young leaders and go-to technicians who will ensure they are carrying out the mission while always looking out for the safety and well-being of the members around them.”
Airmen like Davis and Fryman that have served in other branches demonstrate that their prior experience matters, not just technically for the jobs they currently perform but also in how they approach people, leadership and the Air Force’s culture of knowledge and problem solving. This relationship between currently serving in the Air Force and bringing over experience from prior service highlights the fact that diverse Airmen with diverse experiences make the Air Force stronger.
| Date Taken: | 07.09.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 07.25.2022 10:30 |
| Story ID: | 425703 |
| Location: | OH, US |
| Web Views: | 81 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Prior service maintainers share leadership, time management skills, by SSgt Ethan Spickler, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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