Page 2 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt August 2016

August 2016 COMMENTARY Thunderbolt
http://www.luke.af.mil
2 www.aerotechnews.com/lukeafb
Embrace diversity: Lead from front
PHONE NUMBERS
by Col. our mission, regardless of the visible or invisible attributes
Airman and Family Readiness Center ................................. 623-856-6550 GREG GILMOUR that contribute to diversity within our ranks. These attri-
Airman’s Attic ......................................................................... 623-856-6415 butes include things like gender, race, and age as well as
Armed Forces Bank ............................................................... 623-535-9766 315th Airlift Wing commander education, religion or sexual orientation, just to name a few.
Base Exchange main store ..................................................... 623-935-2671
Base taxi ................................................................................... 623-856-6866 JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. — Often times So, does this mean that the days of inequality are over
Beauty shop ............................................................................. 623-536-1897 when we hear terms like diversity and inclusion, we think and the glass ceiling has been shattered? Certainly not,
Chapel ...................................................................................... 623-856-6211 of them more as buzz words or a way to hold someone ac- and we have a long way to go. But, if we recognize there
Chapel (after duty hours) ....................................................... 623-856-5600 countable for not doing the right thing. are cultural and stereotypical biases in each one of us, and
Child development center ...................................................... 623-856-6338
Clothing sales .......................................................................... 623-856-6310 However, what does diversity actually mean to us in the ght to overcome those biases, we will be well on our way
Club Five Six ........................................................................... 623-856-6446 Air Force? To me, it’s simple: place the right people in the to leveling the playing eld for all Airmen.
Command post ........................................................................ 623-856-5600 right positions to execute our mission.
Commissary ............................................................................ 623-935-3821 As I think about how, as an Air Force, we can con-
Community center .................................................................. 623-856-7152 I recently had the opportunity to re ect on this after I se- tinue this trend of promoting the best and brightest by
Computer IT service desk .................................................... DSN 945-2900 lected the incoming 315th Maintenance Group commander leveraging the best talent we have and capitalizing on
Crime Stop ............................................................................... 623-856-6666 who just happens to be a woman. Looking over our organi- opportunities. I can tell you that the process does not
Dental clinic ............................................................................. 623-856-2273 zation, I realized that in a male-dominated community, we start at the wing commander level; it starts with every
Dermatology ............................................................................ 623-856-2273 are certainly unique. Soon, all three group commanders in Airman and every supervisor. I charge every one of you
Dining hall ............................................................................... 623-856-6396 the 315th Airlift Wing will be females as well as our vice to personally evaluate your internal biases, regardless of
Dorm management ................................................................. 623-856-7841 wing commander and one O-6 squadron commander. how small, set them aside and always continue to push
Education center ..................................................................... 623-856-7722 our Air Force forward.
EMERGENCY ONLY ............................................................................ 911 In the Air Force, women comprise 29 percent of the total
Equal opportunity ................................................................... 623-856-7711 force and, according to a recent study by Diversity Central, I would love to see a day when statistics are no longer
Eye clinic ................................................................................. 623-856-7965 in the civilian sector women only hold 6 percent of chief needed and the best individual is always pushed to the top,
Falcon Dunes Golf Course .................................................... 623-535-9334 executive roles in America. regardless of gender. We have the world’s most powerful Air
Family health clinic ................................................................ 623-856-2273 Force and the reason for that is not because of our weapon
Family housing ....................................................................... 623-388-3515 So, this may leave a person to wonder, why do women systems, it is because of our Airmen. So, take care of each
Fire station ............................................................................... 623-856-6641 hold two-thirds of the senior leader positions in the 315th other, embrace your core value of integrity rst, and always
Firestone Car Care .................................................................. 623-271-8104 AW? I think that answer is also simple. recognize your best and brightest no matter what.
Fitness center ........................................................................... 623-856-6241
Flight medicine ....................................................................... 623-856-2273 We placed the right people in the right positions to move
Food court ................................................................................ 623-935-2671
Fort Tuthill ............................................................................... 623-856-3401 Ending silence opens door to triumph over abuse
Fraud, waste and abuse hotline ............................................. 623-856-6149
Hobby shop ............................................................................. 623-856-6722 Editor’s note: The author’s name was helped pull me out of the toxic fog of reach you. I hope they empower you to
Housing assistance section .................................................... 623-856-7643 redacted to protect the person’s identity. the life I had been living. reach out to the green, to an already
Housing facilities section ....................................................... 623-856-3007 established safety net that will catch
Housing maintenance ............................................................. 623-935-2676 ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. — A green dot is any behavior, choice, you, help you and give you your voice
Identification cards .................................................................. 623-856-7832 I’m tired of the sound of silence. word or attitude that promotes safety back.
Information, tickets and travel ............................................... 623-856-6000 for all of our citizens and communi-
Law enforcement desk ........................................................... 623-856-5970 At a recent Green Dot leadership cates utter intolerance for violence. The momentum of the Green Dot
Legal assistance ....................................................................... 623-856-6901 training session, I was asked to write program needs to not only propel its
Library ...................................................................................... 623-856-7191 down on a piece of paper an action I Walking on eggshells just to keep way through our service, but through-
Lightning Gate visitor reception center ................................ 623-856-4880 would do as a leader to help implement the peace isn’t living. Making excuses out our society, establishing healthy
Lodging office/switchboard ................................................... 623-856-3941 culture change. for explosive behavior in public isn’t boundaries that banish toxic red dots.
Maintenance control center ................................................... 623-856-5469 living. Neither is being called names
Marine Corps ........................................................................... 623-856-2417 I wrote, “Write a commentary on do- that cut you to the core. There are
Marine Corps 24-hour duty desk .......................................... 602-421-5806 mestic assault, which I experienced.” people in this world who only feel good
Marketing ................................................................................ 623-856-3245 if they’re causing someone else pain.
Medical appointments ............................................................ 623-856-2273 Experiencing domestic abuse took That is not love, and that was the hell
Military equal opportunity ..................................................... 623-856-7711 my voice away, and during the thick I lived in until I clawed my way out,
Military pay ............................................................................. 623-856-7028 of it, I didn’t even recognize myself. re-establishing my boundaries and
Navy Operations Support Center .......................................... 602-353-3008 Well, I have my voice back, and I’m understanding what I experienced
OB/GYN clinic ....................................................................... 623-856-2273 breaking my silence. was abuse.
Office of Special Investigations ............................................ 623-856-6821
Optometrist .............................................................................. 623-856-2273 According to the training, red dots Moving on from abuse, I keep a
Orthopedic clinic ..................................................................... 623-856-2273 represent an act of power-based per- quote from Maya Angelou close to my
Outdoor recreation .................................................................. 623-856-6267 sonal violence or the choice to tolerate, heart as a baseline of my boundaries.
Pass and registration ............................................................... 623-856-4880 justify or perpetuate violence. My
Patient advocate ...................................................................... 623-856-8968 whole life at one point was a red dot It reads, “When someone shows
Pediatric clinic ......................................................................... 623-856-2273 where my body and boundaries were you who they are, believe them the
Pharmacy refill call-in ............................................................ 623-856-3969 abused, but I turned to my green dots
Photo services .......................................................................... 623-856-6168 — family, colleagues and leadership rst time.”
Post Office ............................................................................... 623-935-1343 — for help. I ignored the red ags, lost my voice
Public affairs ............................................................................ 623-856-6011 and had my world shattered. Sharing
Recycling information ............................................................ 623-856-4749 It’s through programs, like Green this story, I am your green dot.
Rodgers Travel ........................................................................ 623-856-6894 Dot, that the Air Force is changing If you’re experiencing life living
Safety ........................................................................................ 623-856-6941 toxic red dots to green. around red dots, I hope these words
Security forces ..........................................................................623-856-5970
Security incidents .................................................................... 623-856-7777 I clung to these green dots, and they
Service calls CE maintenance ............................................... 623-856-7232
Sexual Assault Prevention/Response ................................... 623-856-4878 Thunderbolt editorial sta Luke Air Force Base website and social media and is the source for articles and
Shoppette ................................................................................. 623-266-0040 photos published in the Thunderbolt. The Thunderbolt editor is authorized to use
Sick call .................................................................................... 623-856-2273 Publisher .................................................... Aerotech News and Review photos and articles from other .mil or .gov websites.
South Gate VRC ..................................................................... 623-856-4768 Editor ........................................................................... Deborah Leuthold
Straight-Talk line ..................................................................... 623-856-7064 Designer .................................................................................Tinna Sellie Submission deadline is at noon the 15th day prior to the month of publication.
Telephone repair (Base) ......................................................... 623-856-4400 Contributions for the Thunderbolt can be made via email to 56FWPAThunderbolt@
Thrift store ............................................................................... 623-935-5782 Luke Air Force Base us.af.mil. The editor can be reached at 623-856-5998 or deborah.leuthold@us.af.mil.
Ticket/tour office ..................................................................... 623-856-6000
Travel management office household goods ....................... 623-856-6425 Commander.................................................... Brig. Gen. Brook Leonard The Thunderbolt uses material from the Armed Forces Information Service, Air
TMO passenger travel ............................................................ 623-856-7035 Public Affairs chief ................................................ Lt. Col. Matt Hasson Force News Service, AETC News Service and other sources. All advertising is han-
Transient alert .......................................................................... 623-856-6204 Public Affairs deputy chief .......................................... Kiley Dougherty dled by Aerotech News and Review. They can be reached by calling 480-307-1772.
Travel pay ................................................................................ 623-856-7028 Internal information.............................................. Staff Sgt. Staci Miller
Vehicle maintenance ............................................................... 623-935-6576 Contents of the Thunderbolt are not necessarily the official views of, or en-
Veterinary services .................................................................. 623-856-6354 Editorial Information dorsed by, the U.S. government, the Department of Defense or the Department
Weather .................................................................................... 623-856-6805 of the Air Force.
Wellness center ........................................................................ 623-856-2273 For past issues of the Thunderbolt, go to
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