Reservists lead, perform in Southwest Asia Published May 20, 2011 By Sandra Pishner 446th Airlift Wing Public Affairs MCCHORD FIELD, Wash. -- Reserve or active duty, it doesn't matter. What matters are good leaders leading Airmen to mission accomplishment. That was the experience of two Reservists from the 446th Airlift Wing recently back from Southwest Asia. Tech. Sgt Judson Hoyt with the 446th Logistics Readiness Flight, and Staff Sgt. Ronie Radaza, 36th Aerial Port Squadron, are both in the field of supply - mobility supply primarily. Each spent six months deployed and feel each time Reservists are in the field, they gain a newfound respect from fellow Airmen. As a substitute teacher in the Edmonds School district, Sergeant Hoyt is use to jumping in and out of working environments. The trick to showing your value is to be flexible and tag the environment with your best work. "Like anything, you want to leave it better than you received it," said Sergeant Hoyt, a veteran of 17 years with three of those years in the Air Force Reserve. "In our section, I feel we improved the process of returning equipment. We redesigned the area as far as how people dropped off their equipment just so it ran more effectively." Sergeant Radaza, whose last deployment to Southwest Asia was as a wheeled-mechanic with the Army, found personal satisfaction in proving the leadership skills a Reservist brings to the table. "I had three (active duty) Airmen under me," said Sergeant Radaza. "Whenever they had personal problems, I encouraged them on how to deal with it. When I see they were getting tired from work, I would have them go do something else. They appreciated me; they didn't want me to leave. It felt really good." The constant about leadership, whether it comes from Reservists or active-duty Airmen, is that it changes based on personality. "The transition from people coming and going was the most difficult period. Personalities and different leadership styles make it tough for the first month or so," said Sergeant Hoyt. "And the long hours, 12-hour days, six days of the week made it a challenging environment." Leading by example is how Sergeants Hoyt and Radaza best handled the environment. The two joined forces as workout partners to maintain their fitness. Sergeant Hoyt made use of his one day off to add to his education by taking an interpersonal communications course. And Sergeant Radaza made sure to stay in contact with his family regularly. "If they have a family, I tell my Airmen to constantly communicate because it gets lonely out there," said Sergeant Radaza. "Even though it's a low stress area, if you don't keep in constant contact, there's still the stress of worry there." Sergeant Hoyt agrees with Sergeant Radaza, and will take those words of advice with him as he deploys yet again to Southwest Asia this summer.