Break the mold, fill more than the square Published Dec. 9, 2009 By Chief Master Sgt. William T. Wild III 512th Airlift Wing command chief DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. -- As I was moving up through the ranks during my 24 plus years as a member of the 512th Airlift Wing, I often heard the term "filling the squares." Of course, those squares included completing career development courses and professional military education (now known as developmental education). I had no problem getting those done, well almost no problems, but I completed them and advanced in my career in security forces. The square I found most difficult to fill was wing involvement. As a young junior NCO, I didn't think about being involved in the wing. I was wrapped up and too busy with my squadron. Well, I took the leap, and my first activity at the wing level was being part of Total Quality Management. Then, all of a sudden, TQM went away. What was I to do now? Well, I met a great group of fellow Airmen from around the wing, and I was hooked. A few years later, I became a charter member of the Top 3 and volunteered to be one of the masters of ceremony at the Senior NCO Recognition Ceremony. Today, in my position as your Command Chief, I have had the honor of serving as the featured speaker at the NCO Induction Ceremony, and I get to attend all of these important functions and many other events in the Wing. So, now you're probably thinking, "Chief, what does this mean to me?" Well, I hope it means you will seriously consider getting involved at the wing level. We have very talented Airmen and very few step out front and take part. Become active with the Human Resources Development Council, volunteer to plan one of our NCO or senior NCO functions. Take part in the planning of the awards banquet, or become part of our fledgling Rising Six Council, a council born out of our very successful Airman's Weekend, which the wing has hosted the last two years. The mentoring and networking gained by being involved is priceless, and you might just learn a thing or two about other units in the wing. It's not about "filling the squares." It never should have been. It's about how each of us plays an important part in the success of our wing and how we can share our talents with our fellow Airmen to make our wing even better. Get involved, you won't regret it.