Teamwork carries the day Published Aug. 29, 2012 By Maj. Gerald Mulhollen Jr. 30th Security Forces Squadron commander VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Allow me, if you would, to talk about a certain team that I hold close -- one that has come from many different places and backgrounds, but has come together for one common goal. For those of you who know me, you may think I'm talking about the New York Yankees or the Boston Celtics. While they are both great teams and have many banners to prove it, they cannot compare to the team of professionals that make-up the 30th Security Forces Squadron . Let me explain how this very large group of individuals transforms in a team. Every sports fan knows that a team is made of coaches, veteran players and young talent. Our team of defenders is no different in that aspect. Allow me to tell you how our great team is formed. First and foremost, when a new member of the team arrives they are met by the coaches, who are senior leadership. From there they get the vision and direction of the team. The new team members as well as their families, who are vital to success, get flooded with information. This makes everybody aware of the goal for the team. Next, the new team members head off to sharpen their talents and learn how the game is played by this specific team of warriors. They learn the foundation of their soon-to-be career, or new ideas, as they prepare to step out into the big leagues. After completing training they meet the other team members, the seasoned veterans, and are taken under the wing of one of these players; their supervisor. This mentor provides even more knowledge and guidance on the team's goal and how to reach it. After a short time on the bench, these new players are out there on their own making the plays and defending the third largest installation in the Air Force. They are placed in life and death situations from the second they step out onto the field. That is why training and having veteran players is so important to the rookie members of this team. Unit leadership, or coaches, dictates which plays will be called, but it is the players, our 30th SFS defenders, that execute and make it happen. As the head coach of this very large and important team, I am happy to say that my players make it happen. I'm not saying that from time to time we don't make errors like every good team does, but after a short time-out to discuss why it happened and how we will prevent that from happening again, we go back out on the court and improve our play. Our season is year-round and 24 hours a day; the entire team knows this a game that we can't lose, because our sport is so demanding, teamwork has to carry us through.