Page 2 - Luke AFB Thunderbolt 3-25-16

March 25, 2016 COMMENTARY Thunderbolt
http://www.luke.af.mil
2 www.aerotechnews.com/lukeafb
Take time to explain ‘why’
Luke Community Chapel

Holy Week

Date Time Service Location by Col. relate to the larger mission or a decision the leader has made
TODD OSGOOD that causes significant change to the status-quo.Whatever the
Today 3 p.m. Living Stations of the Cross Chapel on the Mall reason, it’s worth taking the time to explain why.
Today 7 p.m. WK([SHGLWLRQDU\0HGLFDO*URXS
(Followed by Soup and Bread Dinner at 6 p.m.) White chapel near Club Five Six For those who have toddlers, you may notice early in life
Good communication is a key element of successful toddlers begin to ask why a lot. No matter how trivial the
Veneration of the Cross LCC organizations. As leaders, managers or supervisors, we’re task, children want to know why you’re doing something
sometimes so focused on communicating the “what” or the or why they should do something they’ve been asked to
Today 6 p.m. Good Friday Protestant Service COM “how” that we fail to explain why the work someone is do- do. If you don’t do a very good job explaining to them why
ing is so important. they should do something, they will usually respond with
SatuMrdaayrch 71:,3R0epc.mon. ciEliaasttieornVigil Mass LCC an emphatic no! As children grow older, their intrigue
SundSaeyrvice7 a.m. Easter Protestant Sunrise Service COM Other times, we make decisions that impact work pri- with their surroundings grows, and they ask why often. As
orities or cause significant change, but don’t explain why. adults, our desire to know why continues, but we’re often
Sunday 9 a.m. Easter Protestant Combined Service COM reluctant to ask. Or, if we know why, we often don’t take
There are many reasons why leaders don’t explain why. time to explain why to others.
Sunday 10 a.m. Easter Sunday Mass Base theater Explaining why takes time, and some leaders may not think
that explaining why is important. Sometimes, leaders assume See WHY, Page 7
Lenten Lunch 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays LCC Annex others understand the why, whether it is how day-to-day tasks

ACTION LINE How to be happily married to the military

56fw.pa@us.af.mil 393rd Bomb Squadron spouse strikes 6, 6:30, 7 p.m. The food is now opportunities to serve others in our
cold, and you are really frustrated. Air Force family. When my spouse is
The Commander’s Action Line For those who have been married, Your spouse walks in the door an hour TDY or deployed, he knows I will be
is your direct line to me with ques- do you remember when you got en- later and explains there was a situa- OK because I have a healthy support
tions or suggestions about subjects gaged and people would give you all tion at work that had to be dealt with system of good friends. This knowl-
of concern to the entire Luke Air kinds of unsolicited advice? I remem- before he could come home. edge makes it much easier for him to
Force Base community. ber my aunt telling me that when you leave our family and focus on his job
marry a man, you don’t just marry I went through this frustrating while he is away.
I appreciate your feedback. him ... you marry his whole family. scenario dozens of times during our
Your ideas and concerns help No one ever tells you that when you first years in the Air Force. I finally Third, be positive. Your family has
build a stronger foundation on marry a military man, you don’t just realized my husband’s job was never waited with anticipation for perma-
which we can successfully com- marry the man ... you marry the mili- going to be a “nine-to-five” (or even nent change of station orders. Where
plete our mission and take care of tary as well. a seven-to-six for that matter). He will you go next? Germany? Hawaii?
our people. has to stay until the work gets done. Florida? Your spouse comes home and
It’s a huge challenge to have a I came to the realization I needed to ... drum roll please... he announces
To receive a response, leave Brig. Gen. Scott Pleus happy marriage. It takes a lot of sac- plan as if he wouldn’t be home for that your family will be headed to the
your name and telephone number. 56th FW commander rifice and it’s hard work. But when dinner, and then if he did get home in frozen tundra of Keflavik, Iceland, for
Action Lines of general interest are you marry an Airman, there’s a third time, it was a pleasant surprise. Most the next three years. This is not the
printed in the Thunderbolt. Remember, the quickest and wheel in the marriage and that’s the days he does make his family engage- dream assignment you had in mind.
most efficient way to resolve a problem is to talk directly to Air Force. At the beginning of my ments on time but remembering to be
the responsible agency or through your chain of command. journey as a military spouse, there flexible has made me so much happier. I’ve learned my children and spouse
were times I really resented that are watching my reactions in mo-
The Action Line isn’t just for complaints. Send along third wheel. Second, be a friend. There will be ments like this, and they take their
your kudos when someone provides exceptional service, times when you’re “holding down the cues from me. If I try to put my best
goes out of their way to help or deserves a kind word. Over the course of the past 17 years, fort” while your spouse is deployed foot forward when preparing for a new
that resentment gradually grew into or on temporary duty. You need a location, my family will follow suit.
PHONE NUMBERS acceptance, and now I can say I really support system to help you through A positive attitude is huge when it
do love and appreciate the Air Force. those times. There are lots of places comes to helping your family transi-
Airman and Family Readiness Center ....................... 623-856-6550 Our marriage is stronger and happier, to meet good friends: church, squad- tion to a new base and community.
Chapel ................................................................... 623-856-6211 not despite the Air Force, but, in many ron functions, the community, spouse
Child Care Center ...................................................623-856-6339 ways, because of the Air Force and the organizations, PTA, etc. I am so grateful for this Air Force
Community Center ............................................... 623-856-7152 challenges faced along the way. I’d journey and how it has strengthened
Computer IT service desk .................................. DSN 945-2900 like to share with you a few things I’ve A good friend of mine here at White- our marriage. As I’ve tried to be flex-
Eye Clinic ............................................................. 623-856-7965 found that have helped our marriage man Air Force Base, Missouri, always ible, to build a strong support system,
Fitness Center ....................................................... 623-856-6241 during our Air Force journey. says, “It’s not the base that makes an and to be positive on this journey,
Flight Medicine .................................................... 623-856-2273 assignment enjoyable, it’s the people our marriage and family has become
Fraud, waste and abuse hotline ............................ 623-856-6149 First, be flexible. I’m sure many of you meet and connect with.” stronger and happier. Our children
Hobby shop .......................................................... 623-856-6722 you have had this experience: You’ve are building character and becoming
+RXVLQJR൶FH arranged to have a special meal for There will be times when you are in more resilient and the Air Force has
Law enforcement desk ......................................... 623-856-5970 your family at 6 p.m. Your spouse said need of help, and there will be times progressed from being a third wheel
Legal assistance .................................................... 623-856-6901 he would be home on time. The clock when your friends really need your to being a special part of our family.
Library .................................................................. 623-856-7191 help. I’ve found so much joy through
Marketing ............................................................. 623-856-3245
Military Equal Opportunity ................................. 623-856-7711 Luke Editorial Staff 7KH7KXQGHUEROWXVHVPDWHULDOIURPWKH$UPHG)RUFHV,QIRUPDWLRQ6HUYLFH$LU
Military pay .......................................................... 623-856-7028 )RUFH1HZV6HUYLFH$(7&1HZV6HUYLFHDQGRWKHUVRXUFHV$OODGYHUWLVLQJLVKDQGOHG
2൶FHRI6SHFLDO,QYHVWLJDWLRQ .............................623-856-6821 Commander.......................................................... Brig. Gen. Scott Pleus E\$HURWHFK1HZVDQG5HYLHZ7KH\FDQEHUHDFKHGE\FDOOLQJ
Outdoor Recreation .............................................. 623-856-6267 3XEOLF$ႇDLUVFKLHI ................................................. Lt. Col. Matt Hasson
Pass and registration ............................................. 623-856-4880 3XEOLF$ႇDLUVGHSXW\FKLHI ........................................... .LOH\'RXJKHUW\ 7KH7KXQGHUEROWLVSXEOLVKHGE\$HURWHFK1HZVDQG5HYLHZDSULYDWH¿UPLQQR
Patient advocate ................................................... 623-856-8968 ,QWHUQDOLQIRUPDWLRQ............................................... 6WDႇ6JW6WDFL0LOOHU ZD\FRQQHFWHGZLWKWKH86$LU)RUFHXQGHUH[FOXVLYHZULWWHQFRQWUDFWZLWKWKHWK
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Security Forces ..................................................... 623-856-5970 'HVLJQHU .................................................................................Tinna Sellie LVDQDXWKRUL]HGSXEOLFDWLRQIRUPHPEHUVRIWKH86PLOLWDU\VHUYLFHV&RQWHQWVRIWKH
Straight Talk Line ................................................. 623-856-7064 7KXQGHUEROWDUHQRWQHFHVVDULO\WKHRႈFLDOYLHZVRIRUHQGRUVHGE\WKH86JRYHUQ
Sexual Assault Prevention/Response .................. 623-856-4878 Editorial Information PHQWWKH'HSDUWPHQWRI'HIHQVHRUWKH'HSDUWPHQWRIWKH$LU)RUFH
Vehicle Maintenance ............................................ 623-935-6576
Veterinary services ............................................... 623-856-6354 For past issues of the Thunderbolt, go to 7KHDSSHDUDQFHRIDGYHUWLVLQJLQWKLVSXEOLFDWLRQLQFOXGLQJLQVHUWVRUVXSSOHPHQWV
Wellness Center .................................................... 623-856-2273 www.aerotechnews.com/lukeafb/ and click on PDF edition GRHVQRWFRQVWLWXWHHQGRUVHPHQWRIWKHSURGXFWVRUVHUYLFHVDGYHUWLVHGE\WKH'2'
Youth Center ......................................................... 623-856-7470 7KHWK)LJKWHU:LQJ3XEOLF$ႇDLUV2ႈFHSUHSDUHVDOOHGLWRULDOFRQWHQWIRUWKH WKH'HSDUWPHQWRIWKH$LU)RUFHRU$HURWHFK1HZVDQG5HYLHZ
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