Strengthening relationships key to success Published March 26, 2018 By Lt. Col. Damon Vorhees 28th Operational Weather Squadron SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. – As a tenant unit commander at Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, I’d like to begin by thanking the 20th Fighter Wing’s leadership for offering me the opportunity to “weigh-in” on a topic that I believe is important and to contribute to Team Shaw’s success. The men and women of the 28th Operational Weather Squadron are proud to call Shaw home for the last 20 years, and we strive daily to make the base and the community a better place to work and live. A recurring message we’ve heard from the highest levels of the Department of Defense, via the new National Defense Strategy, and throughout Air Force leadership is the importance of alliances and partnerships. What drives alliances and partnerships is the notion that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts and, as a Team Shaw mission partner, I truly believe that applies here and we strengthen the team as much as the team strengthens us. As a foreign area officer, I’ve been fortunate to have had many first-hand experiences working with our foreign partners. The key to these partnerships, much like the key to the 28th OWS partnership with the 20th FW, lies with cultivating existing relationships and striving to build new ones. Our relationships with our host wing, 9th Air Force and most recently with the Sumter community by adding an honorary commander, sustain us. These relationships are integral to our ability to accomplish our mission, and contribute immensely to our growth as Airmen and as an organization. Additionally, as a provider of environmental intelligence to our customers and decision-makers throughout U.S. Air Forces Central Command, the 28th OWS works tirelessly to improve the producer-customer relationship that forms the bedrock of our operation’s support to deployed war fighters. Sustaining existing relationships and forging new ones is difficult work. Relationships require time, energy and, oftentimes, compromises and sacrifices by all parties. Relationships are not formed overnight and are difficult to maintain from behind a desk. An old adage in the international affairs community is “virtual presence equals actual absence.” You have to get out there and engage and learn what is important to the other party, what challenges they are facing and how you may be able to help each other reach mutually beneficial solutions. My charge to Team Shaw Airmen is to look for opportunities to build new relationships as they present themselves every day. Strike up a conversation with a stranger at a meeting, learn more about fellow Professional Military Education, students’ careers, or participate in base and community events. At the same time, look to foster the relationships you depend on. Ask for and provide feedback, get out and visit a partner squadron, and look for ways to improve the way you contribute to the fight. As I prepare to hand the reins of the 28th OWS to the next commander this summer, I would like to take this opportunity to say that I am, and will remain, grateful for all of the relationships my wife and I have forged during our time here. Thank you, Team Shaw!