Project managers ... the grease in the gears

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Benjamin Stratton
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  The 5th Communications Squadron communications project managers are the first line of defense for the 5th CS here, organizing anything and everything having to do with communication capabilities both on base and in the missile field.

A lot of responsibility is put on the shoulders of the Airmen who are project managers. So following the six-week technical school training, these Airmen receive most of their training through on-the-job experience.

"You just can't teach management skills in school," said Staff Sgt. David Brattain, 5th CS assistant noncommissioned officer-in-charge of plans and programs. "Most of the knowledge is learned through on-the-job training."

Project manager Airmen take on projects requiring them to take full responsibility for a project's success or failure.

"As an Airman, you can be solely responsible for a multimillion-dollar project with little or no supervision," added Sergeant Brattain.

Therefore, just as in any job, education, training and developing organizational skills are top priority in the 5th CS.

Airman 1st Class Michael Muri, 5th CS communications project manager, said he has to keep himself very organized and always be in the know of what is going on in and out of his office.

"I've never deleted an e-mail in my life," he added. "I have to keep track of the paper trail for all the projects I oversee."

Having organizational skills is just a tool these Airmen use to implement their plans.

"Without our office and these Airmen, no new communication facilities could be installed," Sergeant Brattain said.

These Warbirds not only care for their own, but also take care of their Minot AFB brothers and sisters out at the 91st Missile Wing's missile sites.

"We are the grease in the gears that keep this base rolling," said Airman Muri.

"I love my job," concluded Airman Muri. "This job is unique, because I don't do the same thing every day. Each project is a new adventure and series of obstacles."