JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
Throughout my career I have held many things dear to my heart; the sound of the national anthem, the gentle waving of the stars and stripes and being the best Airman I can be. These are just a few of the things I reflect on when I go home.
In the evening, as I transition from master sergeant, Airman and defender of our nation to father, husband and friend, I can't help but think about the day I just had. Did I do my very best? Did I live up to the expectations of the Air Force, subordinates, peers and most importantly myself? When I finally settle in for the night, I ask myself those tough questions. Sometimes I go to bed knowing that I did everything expected of me. Other times, I realize I could have done better.
As a young Airman, I remember following the orders, rules and expectations of my superiors. They seemed to walk me through all of my tasks, answered all of my questions and provided me with the feedback I needed, ensuring I completed all my duties correctly and on time.
Now that I am in the same role as my former leaders, I find myself in the same situations as I did earlier in my career, only this time there is a definite expectation for me to fix the problems that arise and to give sound advice to my subordinates and provide the feedback they deserve.
When situations arise during your day, you have many choices on how to deal with them. You can look for answers in Air Force Instructions, ask co-workers for advice or you can simply ignore the problem and hope it goes away.
Being an avid sports fan, I often hear sportscasters talking about how players "want to leave it all on the field." In other words, they don't want to leave the playing field and wonder if they could have just given a bit more effort, perhaps affecting the outcome of the game. One day, when we leave the Air Force, whether it's after our first term or as a chief master sergeant with 30 years in Air Force Blue, we don't want to wonder if we could have given just a bit more.
Instead, I hope I will forever strive to do my best, take care of my fellow wingmen and give all I can to our squadron, our Air Force and our country. I do all of this in hope that when I take off my uniform for the last time, I know I did my best and I will have no regrets. I hope the same for you.