There is a way

  • Published
  • By Capt Joseph Coslett
  • 1 SOW/PA
HURLBURT FIELD, FLA --  F-105 Thunderchief pilots ripped through the skies conducting numerous Wild Weasel missions living their motto "first in last out." However, the planes were shot down at an astronomical rate, and the crews kept saying, "There ain't no way - how are we going to get this done?" 

Do not worry, the story does not end there. In the movie "There is a Way," even when faced with insurmountable odds, the Airmen of the F-105 squadron found a way, Col. Brad Webb, 1st Special Operations Wing commander, adopted this as one of his main philosophies and is now bringing it to the 1st SOW. 

"I learned first hand some of the challenges faced in Vietnam because my father was in the F-105 squadron," he said. "If we take the same can do attitude and the approach that mission failure is no option, we will always find a way to succeed and a way to do it right." 

Recently, U.S. Special Operations Command celebrated its 20-year history. Colonel Webb has long been a part of that history. 

"When I first arrived at Hurlburt Field in '87, there was no Air Force Special Operations Command," he said. "We were the 23rd Air Force under MAC (Military Airlift Command), and we were still forming the force in response to Desert One." 

The Air Force matured the MH-53H PAVE LOWs to MH-53Js, brought on the MC-130H Combat Talon IIs, transformed the MC-130P Combat Shadow platforms for Air Force and Army helicopter refueling, and developed the new gunship. 

"All of the pieces were coming together in the late 80s, and we got to prove our 'mettle' in Operation Just Cause in Panama," he said. "Of course we had significant success in Desert Storm, the Balkans, the first part of 9/11, OIF (Operation Iraqi Freedom) and OEF (Operation Enduring Freedom)." 

All throughout his history with SOF, one statement has been proven true -- humans are more important than hardware. Over and over again, Air Commandos have found new leading edge ways to conduct business and tackle AFSOC's ever evolving requirements, according to Colonel Webb. Whether it is adding unmanned aerial vehicles for an increased intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capability or the CV-22 Osprey to add speed and versatility to transport Airmen to the fight, Air Commandos have found a way. AFSOC is experiencing an explosive growth, but it must be properly managed. 

"SOF is quality people not equipment," he said. "We have to manage our people closely. When you get into a numbers game you can't just throw numbers around ... you have to properly manage the quality and training of people to ensure the right culture is instilled. 

We have a fantastic Air Commando culture that we must preserve as we go."
Involved in missions from immediately after Sept. 11 to humanitarian operations over the last two decades, Colonel Webb elaborates on the 1st SOW motto. 

A couple of years ago, the 1st SOW was involved in humanitarian operations in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, he stressed. This is a great example of our motto, "Any time, Any place." 

"When anything pops up on the ticker tap, newswire or CNN, the 1st SOW is going to be a part of it," he said. "This is the mentality we develop in our Airmen from day one, so we will be ready to respond to any type of contingency." 

Colonel Webb continually goes back to one main mentoring moment from the 1st SOW command chief -- the philosophy of servant leadership. 

"I establish the vision for the wing and some broad marching orders, and everybody else is going to execute," he said. "My job as the servant is to kick those branches, boulders and obstacles out of the way to get down the road. But in the end, just like that F-105 movie, it is our people that ensure there is a way!"