Page 2 - Desert Lightning News, Nellis-Creech AFB Edition, June 29 2018

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It’s all about your attitude
by Chief Master Sgt. Sean Smith
McConnell AFB, Kansas
You can either love what you do or hate it, but it all depends on your attitude.
Colin Powell once said, “Perpetual op- timism is a force multiplier.”
I read this during a challenging assign- ment when I didn’t have the right attitude. I was a section superintendent responsible for the actions, products and well-being of 10 people. We all got along great and had a wonderful time working together, but we were not a high performing section. We were getting by, but lacked a vision on where we could be. We were stretched thin, answering new program initiatives across
the full spectrum of operations.
I was repeatedly called to the com-
mander’s office to answer for a multitude of reasons. Every phone call from the front office was accompanied by the same reac- tion: tense shoulders, a mumble under the breath and very short answers.
As I gathered my stuff to head to the office, I would sarcastically say, “I love my job.” I soon found myself surrounded by people I enjoyed working with, but they hated coming to work. They reflected my attitude and I had it all wrong. This was exactly what Powell discussed but in the opposite direction.
Powell’s words struck a chord.
I had to acknowledge I had been wrong
in my actions. Self-reflection can often be a jagged pill to swallow, but I was determined to right the course. I called a mentor of mine for help. In not so gentle terms she told me to pull my head out of my hindquarters. She left the “how” up to me.
Based on the relationship we had estab- lished in the section, I went in and pulled everyone together. I explained what I had identified as the problem and saw them replicating it. I asked for their help to make me better. Every slip up was pizza for the office. Luckily, I only had to buy about a half dozen.
In the end, we rallied together and turned around the section. We earned an
“outstanding” rating in our first Unit Ef- fectiveness Inspection. More importantly, over a three-month timeframe, my team went from dreading coming to work and getting out of there as soon as possible to finding worth in what we were doing and collectively improving each one of our perspectives.
My team and I were able to accomplish all this by making an adjustment to our attitudes.
We can all improve and place ourselves in a better position by keeping our minds open to new ideas, taking a little time for self-reflection and being determined to be better.
It’s all about your attitude.
Airmen are always on the record, clock and red carpet
by Chief Master Sgt. Marvin Parker
Andersen AFB, Guam
A few years ago, I happened to be scroll- ing through my Facebook account and came across a comment made by an Air Force staff sergeant that I had saved in my friends list.
It appeared she was on a rant about some rapper stomping on the U.S. flag as part of his new video.
What I found most disappointing about the post was that she was apparently NOT upset about the actions of this rapper, but of all the people who seemed to have a problem with what the rapper was doing to the flag. Her rant was filled with explicit, racially-charged and offensive language that in many cultures, especially the Air Force, would be considered inappropriate and unprofessional.
So, I went to the private message window and asked her to consider revising or re- moving the post. The staff sergeant quickly responded to my private message by stating she didn’t feel her comment was in violation of any rules, and it was within her right to post her thoughts on her page. Of course I responded by referencing AFI 1-1 par., 2.15 as it relates to military members use of social media. She replied by stating she didn’t have time to read the paragraph and her father, a
retired command sergeant major, read the post, and he didn’t have a problem with what she said in her post. Finally, I asked if her first sergeant or commander had read the post and if so, what their thoughts were. I received nothing but silence after my mes- sage to her.
Airmen are always on the record. Air- men are asked to make statements about an event, issue or topic. News stories are filled with instances of once great leaders falling from grace because of a comment made off the record. One would think on the record only means something said verbally or written publically from an official position, but there is also the realm of social media.
Airmen are always on the clock; being out of the work center is not a license to “turn-it-up.”
Behaviors in the office will be judged by a few coworkers and possibly a supervisor. I assert behaviors outside of the work cen- ter are on display and judged by literally thousands of people. Public perception is the reality to the public. Contrary to what coworkers, supervisors and leaders know about the airmen on the job, just one ques- tionably written post, video clip or picture could potentially tarnish the airmen’s oth- erwise stellar image. Airmen should not let virtual truths shape their known realities or
determine their fitness for future military service.
The internet is filled with clips of leaders caught partying like rock stars on and off duty, in or out of their official capacities, and in and out of uniform. However, social media platforms have also undoubtedly facilitated the Airman’s ability to create and sustain meaningful relationships both lo- cally and abroad. Airmen must actively manage their social media presence by knowing their audience and whom they represent (i.e., military community, family, friends, affiliated organizations, etc.), the intent of the conveyed message and how the message will be interpreted.
Airmen are always on the red carpet. It is the public we serve, and our service stories are influenced by public opinion, good or bad. Our industry is subject to public scrutiny, shaped by media coverage, and the behaviors of all Airmen, not just a few. In our attempts to attract audiences or boost our number of “likes,” our Airmen may potentially push the envelope of acceptable behavior too far, and the public will be waiting to pounce. Of course there is and will continue to be the other side to a story (i.e., what happened before or after the post, pic or video etc.); no one will know or ever care to know the rest of the story.
The Airmen’s values should remind them of what is truly at stake, to avoid adverse publicity or unfavorable perceptions. Nega- tive perceptions are almost impossible to overcome in the near or mid-term, so Airmen must know the rules of using social media. There are better ways to celebrate and com- municate feelings, thoughts, and ideas; how- ever, Airmen must remember that everyone is watching. Airmen are entitled and encour- aged to champion or proclaim their levels of national pride, patriotism, raise awareness, or take a stand, but the proclamation should not come at the cost of their career, military image, reputation, or good order.
So what happened to the raging staff ser- geant? I was “unfriended” and couldn’t be happier. I was told years ago that if my words or posts were not something my parents would be proud to read or my leaders could defend against the major media agencies on my behalf; I probably shouldn’t write, say, or post it. What we do or say as airmen is part of a permanent virtual record to be recovered, accessible, traceable and useable by anyone at their discretion. Airmen must exercise cau- tion when posting on social media because it represents more than just the airmen.
Remember, if you post it, you own it and if you’re in it, you’re in on it — own the deci- sions you’ve made.
Desert Lightning News Staff
Paul Kinison, Publisher, Aerotech News and Review Stuart Ibberson, Editor
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