No one cares more than you

  • Published
  • By Maj. Timothy Kodama
  • 436th Comptroller Squadron commander
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  Everyone has that day, where certain words seem to hit home and stay with you for your entire career. One day after looking at my records, prior to my Majors promotion board, my mentor looked at me and told me we had some work to do. After a couple of hours reviewing my records with him, I knew that they were not competitive. He informed me that I wouldn't earn a Definitely Promote recommendation in comparison to the other captains in the unit. I was in shock because for eight years I thought I was doing the right things to get promoted. This was the first time someone actually talked to me about my future. Then he said those words that still ring true today. He said, "No one cares more about your career than you."

From day one, this situation was my own fault. I arrived at my first permanent duty station on October 20, 1995 bright eyed and ready to take on the world. As a second lieutenant, I had no clue what I was supposed to do except to learn my job as a Deputy Financial Analysis Officer. Unfortunately, there wasn't anyone to guide me on what I needed to do beyond the office. I was in my own little world thinking that if I worked hard at the office then my boss would take care of me. I worked with another second lieutenant who was involved in all sorts of activities from Company Grade Officer Council functions to different fundraisers for the wing. I thought 'what in world is he doing? He is just wasting his time.'

The only thing that I was doing outside the office was pursuing my Masters in Finance. I only did that because I wasn't sure if I was going to stay in after my five-year commitment. The other lieutenant was also working on his Masters, as well as keeping detailed bullets on all the things he was involved in both on and off duty. When it came time to submit well-thought out bullets for awards packages and Officer Performance Reportss, he was ready and I was not. I thought that my supervisor would take care of me because I was working hard. Besides I thought, it's not my job to write on myself ... it's my supervisor's.

Towards the end of my tour, I knew the standard for a Permanent Change of Station decoration for me was an achievement medal. One day, I noticed the other lieutenant typing something on his computer when I stopped by his desk to talk about an issue. He told me he was typing up a memo on why he deserved an Air Force Commendation Medal. I asked why he was doing that since the standard is an achievement. He told me that the worst thing that the commander could do is disapprove it. He recommended that I should do the same thing. Of course, I didn't. I thought that I could talk to the commander to justify a commendation medal because I felt my job performance would speak for itself. I talked to our commander for five minutes and she told me that she would think about it. That was "good enough" for me.

When it came time for my commander to decide, which should not have come as a shock to me, she pushed for a commendation medal for the other lieutenant. I received the standard PCS decoration, an achievement medal. I was upset because I felt that I did everything that I needed to do to earn the commendation medal ... or at least I thought.

In retrospect, I knew my finance job but I wasn't even close to filling the total person concept that the Air Force expects us to uphold. I wasn't involved in base and local community activities. I really did not want to do anything but work and go home. I thought many of my peers were just brown-nosing with leadership at the different base and local functions. However, as an Airman, it is your duty to get involved because that is an Air Force expectation--"Service before self." I didn't take the time to provide inputs on any award packages or OPRs. As a result, I had enough blank space on my first report that I could write a second one. I exaggerate, but it is not too far from the truth.

Do not wait for someone to tell you these things. Know when your OPR or EPR is due, provide inputs that fit nicely and fill-up each comment section of your report. Keep a running list of bullets on your job performance, volunteer work and self-improvement--CCAF, Bachelors and Masters. Make it easy for your bosses to submit you for an award. I'm not advocating stepping on anyone's toes to get ahead. Nor, am I saying that you can't rely on your chain of command to take care of you. It is expected that your chain takes care of you based on your performance, but you must have a stake in the outcome of your career.

The Air Force promotes breadth of experience so inquire about special duty assignments--Military Training Instructor or tech school instructor or staff jobs at joint or major commands and Air Staff. In addition, ensure that you are completing the Professional Military Education commensurate with your grade. It is easier for your chain of command to push you for certain jobs when you have filled all the squares. I was fortunate that my mentor pushed me out of my primary Air Force Specialty Code into a wing executive job. This job provided me better insight of what the wing commander thinks about when making decisions; furthermore, how each base function interacts with each other. This experience has been invaluable to me being your Wing Comptroller and a squadron commander.

The last thing is to find a mentor ... someone who you admire. Pick their brain on how to be a better Airman in today's Air Force. For Enlisted Airmen, the Wing's Career Assistance Advisor is always available for guidance. At the same time, remember that there really isn't a "one size fits all" career path to achieve your Air Force goals with the exception of hard work and dedication--"Excellence in all we do."

Instead of settling for "good enough," as I did as a young Airman, take time now to invest in your future and find a mentor who can guide you. Take my mentor's advice! Make today the day those words ring true for your career. Young officers, airmen and NCOs can ask any successful Air Force professional and I guarantee their answer will be the same as the spot on advice my mentor gave me.

No one cares about your career more than you!