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BEACON
THE The innate powers of the millennial enlisted
Volume 80, Number 37
by Technical Sergeant Robert L. Garcia, Ed.D

452 AMW Public Affairs We live in the dawn of the Information Age. As military members be an asset to them. Always give more than you take.
14560 2nd Street, Bldg. 2640 we have seen throughout history the various stages of development 2. Be the Standard
March ARB, CA 92518-1852 for the betterment of mankind. As each major Age takes place, we Remember what it was like to be in the last week of Basic
DPZSDZRUNÀRZ#XVDIPLO see the end results of better technology, food production methods,
and our ability to defend ourselves with more advanced weaponry. Training? You were looked upon by new recruits as the absolute
ID[ standard, the person who had achieved the ultimate pinnacle of
SKRQH Today’s enlisted member has more opportunities available for discipline and achievement. You were squared away, probably in
personal growth and development than in any time in history. The the best shape of your life and more confident than you had ever
COMMANDER landmark Post 9/11 GI Bill is one of the greatest tools an Enlisted been. You walked with pride and probably gave some hope to
&RO5XVVHOO0XQF\ person has in their arsenal for personal education. Emulating the some 1st week recruit that was terrified.
Post WWII Gi Bill of our forefathers returning from European
PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER campaign, the Post 9/11’s greatest strength is its versatility. The Are you still that person?
&DSW3HUU\&RYLQJWRQ fact that there is a BAH allowance eases the financial burden of Are you the Soldier, Sailor, Airman or Marine that could ap-
trying to pay for living expenses while in school, particularly for pear on a recruiting poster? Are you 1st Sergeant Material? If not,
EDITOR young families. maybe its time to revisit what makes a person be average and what
0V/LQGD:HO] makes them the standard by which others are held to.
I enlisted in the Air Force in 1998. Like all Airmen, I proudly A. Work Performance
$0:(',725,$/67$)) marched at Lackland, carried 341s (and sometimes lost them to a The average troop will show up at work in a questionable looking
6HQLRU0DVWHU6JW'DYLG6PLWK sharp eyed TI). I was fortunate enough to be stationed at Barks- uniform, and do what is asked while thinking of the weekend. They
0DVWHU6JW0HJDQ&UXVKHU dale for my entire enlistment. During this time, I developed the will look at their professional development as a waste of time, and
6WDII6JW7LIIDQ\/LQGHPDQQ work ethic that would help me in my future endeavors even when devote more time thinking about lunch than the shared vision of the
6WDII6JW+HDWKHU&R]DG6WDOH\ things got rough. Flight Commander, First Sergeant, E-9, and other leadership.
6HQLRU$LUPDQ5XVVHOO0F0LOODQ The troop that strives to be the Standard will show up early,
6HQLRU$LUPDQ-RVHSK'DQJLGDQJ I studied good leaders, emulated their work habits, and either with a haircut, and the materials needed that resemble a business
6HQLRU$LUPDQ.HYLQ0LWWHUKRO]HU went to school off duty or worked a second job. The end result? professional: Pen, Pencil, Notebook, Day Planner, Calculator and
After one enlistment, I had a Bachelor’s degree, an Associate’s and a Weekly Schedule of Events, Training, and Work. They will have
7KH %HDFRQ LV SXEOLVKHG E\ CCAF. I was able to apply both to OTS and the FBI. Despite not be- firsthand knowledge of the current events within their unit, and
$HURWHFK1HZVDQG5HYLHZ$HUR- ing selected, it was a great stepping stone towards future endeavors. will have a good rapport with all coworkers.
WHFKLVDSULYDWH¿UPLQQRZD\FRQ- The troop that strives to be the best will know exactly what the
nected with the U.S. Air Force, un- Today at 38, I’m a Technical Sergeant in a Reserve Squadron standards of their Enlisted Performance report entails, and will be
GHUH[FOXVLYHZULWWHQFRQWUDFWZLWK in Riverside. I completed a Doctorate in Education, own a life a forward thinker, and aggressive performer. Show me an Enlisted
WKH QG$LU 0RELOLW\ :LQJ 7KLV coaching company, Blue Dragon Enterprises, that I started for 100 member in the front row of a Commander’s briefing taking notes fu-
FLYLOLDQHQWHUSULVH$LU)RUFHQHZV- dollars and just released my seventh book. I run about 20 miles a riously, and Ill show you a person that is on the fast track to success.
SDSHULVDQDXWKRUL]HGSXEOLFDWLRQ week and give life counseling to those that need it. B. Physical Fitness
IRU HPSOR\HHV DQG PHPEHUV RI A 2009 report compiled by a Washington D.C nonprofit states
86PLOLWDU\VHUYLFHVUHWLUHHVDQG You have the ability to accomplish far more than I ever have. You that 75% of young people are unfit to serve based on obesity, test
IDPLO\PHPEHUV&RQWHQWVDUHQRW have advantages that I never had, and once you read the following
QHFHVVDULO\ WKH RI¿FLDO YLHZV RI section, you will have the potential to elevate yourself to new levels of See POWERS page 7
RUHQGRUVHGE\WKH86*RYHUQ- success and leadership that you never thought possible.
PHQWWKH'HSDUWPHQWRI'HIHQVH
RUWKH'HSDUWPHQWRIWKH$LU)RUFH I am going to share with you five tenets for your development as
an enlisted member.
7KH DSSHDUDQFH RI DGYHUWLV-
LQJ LQ WKLV QHZVSDSHU LQFOXGLQJ 1. Learn to Network
LQVHUWVRUVXSSOHPHQWVGRHVQRW I wish I had capitalized on this years ago. Networking is like
FRQVWLWXWH HQGRUVHPHQW RI WKH creating your own army of people that are instrumental towards
SURGXFWV RU VHUYLFHV E\ WKH 'H- your success. After reading Win Friends and Influence People,
SDUWPHQWRI'HIHQVHWKH'HSDUW- which may be the best book I have ever read, I improved my in-
PHQWRIWKH$LU)RUFHRU$HURWHFK terpersonal communications greatly and capitalized on the power
1HZVDQG5HYLHZ,QF of a group of people. I have friends that help me print t shirts, find
me clients, promote my book, and offer suggestions for success.
(YHU\WKLQJ DGYHUWLVHG LQ WKLV As an enlisted person, you have an enormous network to draw
QHZVSDSHU VKDOO EH PDGH DYDLO- from. Co workers, Supervisors, Families of fellow vets, the list is
DEOHIRUSXUFKDVHXVHRUSDWURQ endless. If I had been more knowledgeable, I would have started
age without regard to race, color, my company while Active Duty because I had so many people I
UHOLJLRQVH[QDWLRQDORULJLQDJH encountered on base daily. Here are some networking tips.
PDULWDOVWDWXVSK\VLFDOKDQGLFDS A. Get business cards that are professional, specific, and have
SROLWLFDO DI¿OLDWLRQ RU DQ\ RWKHU your contact info. Vistaprint is the best company I have found so far.
QRQPHULWIDFWRURIWKHSXUFKDVHU B. When meeting someone new, give them a firm handshake
XVHURUSDWURQ and observe the small details about them. It’s a time honored prin-
ciple that a person’s favorite talking point is themselves, so ask
(GLWRULDOFRQWHQWLVHGLWHGSUH- questions and pay attention.
SDUHG DQG SURYLGHG E\ WKH VWDII C. When you meet someone new, find out their hobbies, inter-
RI WKH QG $LU 0RELOLW\ :LQJ ests, job, and listen VERY carefully for anything they may need
3XEOLF$IIDLUV RI¿FH DW 0DUFK$LU help with. If you can provide this, without being asked, that person
5HVHUYH %DVH $OO SKRWRJUDSKV will want to keep you around for a very long time.
in the Beacon are Air Force pho- D. Remember people’s first names. It’s a huge compliment
WRV XQOHVV RWKHUZLVH VWDWHG )RU when you remember who someone is after a period of time.
DGYHUWLVLQJ FRQWDFW$HURWHFK GL- E. Remember that every person you meet has a skill or ability,
UHFWO\DW and a want. People are assets and you must be prepared to equally

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