By John Goodman, NAVAIR Public Affairs Office

NAS Atlanta, GA—For two days in late October, admirals and warfighters, artisans and airmen, Sailors and Marines, actives and reserves came together to exchange ideas, tour the NAS Reserve facilities and understand each other better. Over lunch, across workstations and on the shop floor, NAVRIIP leaders were eager to face their customers, help solve their problems and hear their stories.

According to VADM Wally Massenburg, Commander, Naval Air Systems Command, there was another purpose too: “We need to hear from our frontline people so that we as leaders can make better decisions. It has to be a two-way street, helping each other.”

For the past four years, the Naval Aviation Readiness Integrated Improvement Program (NAVRIIP) has been conducting these events to give its leadership face-to-face interaction with Sailors and Marines from all parts of the enterprise—from the depots and maintenance facilities to the warfighters serving in OEF and OIF.

The group heard reports from MALS (Marine Air Logistics Squadron) commanders just returned from Iraq, telling about their supply chain and repair problems and how they developed solutions in the face of unbelievable environmental and weather conditions.

Said Massenburg, “We need to realize that we may have to fight the GWOT for a long time, and so there aren’t any easy, short-term incentives available to us. We need to think long-term and for the greater good. That’s what has to motivate us.”

Photo caption: Atlanta, Georgia (October 25, 2005) - During the NAS Atlanta Boots on the Ground event, NAE leadership check supply records with AS1 Andre Thompson. From left to right: RDML Pete Williams, Assistant Commander, Aviation Depots; Thompson; RDML Jeffrey Lemmons, Commander, Naval Air Forces Reserves; and VADM Wally Massenburg, Commander, Naval Air Systems Command. U.S. Navy photo.