CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
We all have expectations every day whether we are consciously thinking about them or not.
For instance, I'll bet a lot of people expect to be sitting in traffic on Dorchester Road every morning or evening during what should be a fairly short commute to work.
Once at work, what are your expectations of the day? Is it going to be ridiculously busy with prepping for a high visibility mission while performing your flight commander job and working on your master's degree? Or is it actually going to be a slower day where you can try and catch back up from the previous busy day or week?
Either way, all of us have expectations throughout the day both at work and at home.
It's hard to believe I took command almost five months ago. Honestly, it just seems like a couple of weeks. During one of my first Commander's Calls, I passed on the squadron's mission and vision to my Airmen and had them help develop our goals. Most importantly, I laid out my expectations and continue to emphasize them.
I developed six expectations for my squadron ... the longest one being a total of five words. You don't have to be wordy to get your point across, and I felt the shorter the terms, the easier they may be to remember. All six are outlined below.
· Know your job - We are all professionals whether it is as aviators, maintainers, aerial porters or any number of other specialties here on base and in the Air Force. In order to be effective at a job, one must know what they are supposed to do in the first place. Undoubtedly, there are numerous technical orders, job guides and regulations, which govern how we do our jobs. It is each and every one of our responsibilities to know them.
· Do your job - Knowing your job is only half of it. You must take what you know and actually do your job. I've become so tired of hearing 20 percent of the people do 80 percent of the work. I know this is really a stretch, but how about if everyone pulled their own weight and did their job. It would then make everyone's life a little easier, and even more importantly, imagine how much better we could perform our mission.
· Do it safely - This is imperative. It does not matter how fast you load the aircraft or move the mission if you end up bending metal in the process. Even worse, do you really save time by skipping steps or disregarding the technical order because of complacency or downright laziness and end up either hurting or killing someone in the process? I always brief my new aircraft commanders to err on the safe side and get help when and if they need it.
· Take care of each other - This is not an easy lifestyle we have chosen, and the pace of Charleston is unforgiving. We must constantly look out for each other whether it is at home or while deployed. Sometimes just asking, "How are you doing?" is all that is needed to get someone to open up. If this happens, please get them the help they need. If you don't know what to do, then let your supervisor and first sergeant know you need help.
· Always be professional - This one is completely non-negotiable. Each of us not only represents the squadron, wing and command we are serving in, but more importantly, we represent this great country. When we are seen in the local community or overseas, the brief interaction may be the only impression we can leave. If it is a bad one, then that person or persons may think all Americans act that way. Also remember, you are not on "spring break" when you go on temporary duty ... and what goes TDY does not stay TDY.
· Have fun - This may be the last expectation, but by no means is it the least important. We need to take the time whenever possible to have fun, whether it is with work or with your family. The opportunity is there. We all need to seize it when and where we can. Finally, there is what I call alcohol and the "stupid line." As part of having fun and taking care of each other, make sure when you are out with your buddies you never cross the "stupid line." Have fun, but also have a plan.
As I stated earlier, we all have expectations throughout the day, each and every day.
These are the six I passed to my squadron, so hopefully there is a nugget or two you can use. Each and every one of you has an extremely important job in accomplishing a mission, which takes a lot of teamwork in order to be successful.
Now, get back to work.