Air Force Reserve’s Dodds: Shifting Plans, Perspective
Col. Casey Dodds, vice commander for the 910th Airlift Wing at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station, is coming back strong, along with his wife, Kim. You can learn more about the station at its website.
What are some ways the COVID-19 outbreak has affected your organization, and how is it rebounding?
Being a military organization, we have to manage the risk to mission readiness as well as the risk to our members. Although there are many aspects of our work that can be done virtually, there are many things that must be done in-person.
In an effort to minimize exposure to our personnel, we employed telework to the maximum extent possible. For those employees who were unable to do their primary job virtually, their schedules were adjusted to limit contact with other personnel. The good news is that we were able to keep the majority of wing personnel gainfully employed during the past four months.
How has the outbreak affected your personal life?
That is a great question. I am a Traditional Reservist (TR), which means I only work part-time in the Air Force Reserve, and typically work on the installation about seven days a month. As with most senior TRs, I do not live in the local area. I live in Canada with my wife, Kim Macies.
In March, following the Unit Training Assembly, my plan was to return home. Unfortunately, the outbreak and the need to self-isolate when crossing international borders became an issue. In addition, Col. Joe Janik, the 910th Airlift Wing commander, was deployed overseas until May. As the vice commander, I was “in charge” during his absence, and the crisis dictated that I remain at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station until Col. Janik’s return.
In the end, I arrived on base March 2 and led our amazing team of professionals until June 9 when Col. Janik was back in town and the local COVID rates were finally decreasing. It was a crazy time for Kim and I. Daily FaceTime calls and weekly Zoom social gatherings with our family and friends became the norm. I am currently teleworking from home and will monitor the situation to see when I can return to the valley.
What steps are you taking to come back strong?
The base has put in place policies and procedures to ensure compliance with CDC protocols. We are working toward the “new normal” and instilling a new culture where compliance to the protocols results in showing respect for your teammates. This is the only way we will get through this, and we will be stronger in the end – together.
What advice are you sharing with the people you love?
This is not going to last forever. When things adjust to “normal,” you need to appreciate and embrace the moments you have with your loved ones, in-person. Cherish the little things. The military equivalent would be like returning from a deployment, where everything is put into perspective, and you try to not sweat the small stuff.