Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        National Guard Office of Special Victims' Counsel

    Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 Arizona Guard Airman relates leadership lessons By Air Force Tech. Sgt. Michael Matkin
                161st Air Refueling Wing
 PHOENIX — Arizona Air National Guard Airman 1st Class Jonathan Sheaffer wears a firefighter's helmet as a hazardous material technician for the City of Maricopa Fire/Medical Department, a coach's cap as an assistant high school football coach, and a military duty cap as a vehicle maintenance apprentice with the 161st Air Refueling Wing here. In April, Sheaffer was named Airman of the Year for the entire Arizona Air National Guard - an honor bestowed only upon the most well-rounded, high-performance junior leaders. "The military, fire department and football organizations are very similar," Sheaffer said. "You can put them side-by-side and they will match up. The titles may be different, but there is still an organizational chart and chain of command. You still need a certain amount of people and special tools, but the structure of it is set up the same way and someone is delegating authority, whether it's the head coach, the wing commander or [fire department] captain." **Tailoring leadership style** He said in each of these structures there's a leader shaping the organization, but, in his opinion, the most effective leaders are those who can tailor their leadership style to the individual. "Knowing people interpret situations differently, your leadership style will also affect them differently," Sheaffer said. "Everyone's going to have a difference in perspective and leaders should take those perspectives in consideration." As a football coach, Sheaffer learned firsthand the nuances of customizing leadership styles. He said some kids can be pushed hard, while yelling at others may cause them to breakdown, and then he has failed them. "I'm not just coaching them to be good football players, I'm coaching and educating them to be good people," he said. "If I cause a kid to crumble, they'll be less receptive." Having these leadership skills helped Sheaffer when he entered Air Force basic training and was chosen as his flight's dorm chief during the first week of training, a position he held through graduation. He said his previous experience as a leader, and as a follower, made it easier to talk and listen to his fellow airmen -- urging them to do their best. "Everyone's background and situation isn't the same, especially in the military," Sheaffer said. "There are people from all over the country with diverse cultures, so the same leadership style won't work for everyone." He said customizing leadership and listening to subordinates is one of the great things he has learned as a junior firefighter. Firefighters have all had the training and they all know ways to complete their tasks. However, when they are on the scene of an accident, his leaders seek input from the team to come up with an incident action plan. **'Someone else may have a better plan'** "The captain will tell us, 'Okay, we are going to do these three steps and meet these benchmarks,'" Sheaffer said. "If we don't meet those goals we pull back and reevaluate as a team and ask, 'Do we need to change strategies and do something else?' I've learned that even if you are the guy in charge, sometimes someone else may have a better plan. You have to consider other's perspectives even if it's not the right way to do it or the way things need to be done. They will appreciate you having openly acknowledged their insight." Sheaffer said he witnessed this dynamic leadership in the vehicle maintenance shop during his first day of on-the-job training after having returned from Air Force technical school. "We were removing the cab off one of the security forces trucks, and I was amazed at all the hands involved completing the task and how everyone's input was valued," he said. "We were each assigned an area of responsibility; making sure all the lines and hoses were clear as the cab was lifted," he added. "[The shop leaders] made it known if anyone saw something snagging or any other kind of problem, you had carte blanche to halt the removal." Sheaffer said his shop leaders' example showed him they truly care about each Airman. "If a message needs to be conveyed that a behavior or a process needs to be changed, it is directed in a constructive manner," he said. "Just like the football player, they present it in a way that I don't internalize the message and feel criticized. Sheaffer said he hopes as he grows in his roles as an Airman and as a citizen that he can utilize the lessons he's learned from his current and past leadership. "I won't have personal contact with everyone in my different roles, whether at a city, state or national level," he said. "However, if I conduct myself in certain way, my small part in the big machine can ultimately impact everyone.
 SHARE
 PRINT
 
 Pennsylvania Army Guardsmen Complete Combat Lifesaver Course
 By Sgt. 1st Class Shane Smith,
  38th Infantry Division Soldiers Conduct Warfighter Exercise
 By Master Sgt. Jeff Lowry,
  Puerto Rico Air National Guard Trains at Red Flag-Alaska
 By 156th Wing
  More
 Pennsylvania Army Guardsmen Complete Combat Lifesaver Course Guard News • 2 hours ago
 38th Infantry Division Soldiers Conduct Warfighter Exercise Guard News • 10 hours ago
 Puerto Rico Air National Guard Trains at Red Flag-Alaska Guard News • 10 hours ago
 Air National Guard Conducts Sentry Savannah Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 Hawaii Air National Guard Hosts Sentry Aloha Joint Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 2024 (196)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil