It is not about you, but it is all up to you

  • Published
  • By Maj. Justin Radford
  • Commander, 736th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  I recently took command of the 736th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and as I was going through the transition I finally discovered my personal definition of "Service Before Self." When placed into a position of influence it is very easy to start to think that everything is about you. Whether you are taking command, becoming a squadron superintendent or even getting your first two Airmen to supervise after graduating Airman Leadership School, it is very important to remember that it is not about you, but ... it is entirely up to you.

After the change of command, I was completely blown away by the level of support given to me, "the new commander," by the squadron's support staff. From the squadron's secretary, Mrs. Beth Daniels, to the individuals in the programs office (Tech. Sgt. Scribner and Tech. Sgt. Dunn) and one of our Government Travel Card holders, (Tech. Sgt. Bennett), their immediate responses to my every question and need was impressive. I could see how easy it would be to get an inflated vision of self-worth if one wasn't grounded and focused on the opportunity that comes along with influence. I'm certain that they gave the same level of support to the previous commander and they will do the same thing when I hand over the guidon in the future. Just as I am certain that Airmen you supervise did what their previous supervisor asked of them as well. Whether they respect just the position you are in, or if they also respect you as a person, is up to you.

When in a position of influence, people are going to do what you ask of them, even if they don't like or respect you. You see, it is not you, the individual that they are responding to, instead it is the person that you represent, the duties of the office and position that you are executing, that they are responding to. It is important to make the distinction between the two so that 1) your ego doesn't explode and 2) that you won't waste the opportunity that you have been presented with, a most precious opportunity ... the opportunity to influence and impact other people's lives. Whether as a parent, a supervisor or a first sergeant, the single most important opportunity one could ask for is the opportunity to positively impact someone's life. How you go about this is entirely up to you.

Are you a first time supervisor? If so, how do you treat your Airman? Are you a superintendent or a flight chief? How do you treat the Airman that you have been charged to care for? Do you bark orders and treat them like second-class citizens, or do you ask of them nothing that you wouldn't be willing to do yourself? Do you treat them the same way you would want to be treated, regardless of their position or rank? What is the difference between me and an Airman Basic? A degree (maybe) and 19 years of experience...nothing more, nothing less. I believe that I owe that Airman the same level of respect that I give to a colonel. According to a study revealed in the book, "First Break All The Rules," by Marcus Buckingham (excellent read, by the way), the number one reason why people leave their employer or are dissatisfied at work is because of their immediate supervisor. Not pay, not benefits, not the company's vision, but simply how their supervisors treat them. Hopefully, you'll remember this the next time you are executing the duties of your position.

Please don't mistake this message as one that is asking you to be "nice" to everyone and not hold them accountable for their actions because it might make them "mad" or "upset." Supervisors who don't hold their folks accountable are actually worse for the individual than the ones who just show a lack of respect. By setting high expectations and holding people accountable, you are showing them respect, more importantly - you are showing them that you care.

When I sat down to write this article, I didn't intend for it to be about my view on one of our core values. However, through the course of thinking about and writing this article, I think I have finally discovered my definition of "Service before Self." It's easy to define "Integrity" and "Excellence in All We Do," but I've always struggled with what "Service before Self" meant. To me, it means realizing that it is not about you but it is all up to you. If you are in a position of influence, please don't waste it. Make your Airmen your number one priority - our Airmen deserve it!