Page 2 - Nellis AFB Bullseye 8-7-15

2 August 7, 2015
www.aerotechnews.com/nellisafb
Defining moments
By Master Sgt. Angela Blue
755th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE
BASE, Ariz. — The word character has
many meanings according to the diction-
ary, a feature or trait characteristic, moral
or ethical quality, qualities of honesty,
courage, and to no surprise, integrity.
Since it has so many different meanings,
it can be made to adapt to so many dif-
ferent types of people. Courage is not the
absence of fear, but rather the judgment
that something else is more important
than fear.
Our families and life experiences help
us develop and mold our character, and
eventually make us who we end up being in
this world, whether it’s the CEO of a large
company, or maintaining the freedom of
being your own boss by running your own
business. A person’s character says a lot
about them, but how you show it is what
gives it that true meaning.
Some people say that to have courage,
a person must run into the firefight. That
person needs to be fearless all the time in
every situation. Well, I am here to tell you
that I do not totally agree with either one
of those definitions.
How many pieces of military flair are on your social media?
From Staff Reports
Air Force Office of Special Investigations
MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE
BASE, Idaho — Being a member of the
United States Air Force should without
question be a source of pride.
The service you render to the United
States is a vital one and retired Air Force
members and family members take an equal
pride in the service they have and do render
to the Air Force.
Unfortunately, there will always be
people who, for various reasons, wish to
bring harm to military members and those
affiliated with the military.
The wear of the uniform is a badge of
honor and sets you apart, but in the wrong
setting, can be unwise. Likewise, not just
in person, display of the uniform and other
Bullseye News Staff
Paul Kinison, Publisher, Aerotech News and Review
Barry Anderson, Advertising Sales
Karl Dean, Advertising Sales
Stuart Ibberson, Editor
Tinna Sellie, Editorial Layout
CONTACT: Advertising Sales (702) 876-4589
For display ads: e-mail barryanderson@aerotechnews.com
or e-mail KarlDean@aerotechnews.com of the products or services advertised.
For classified ads: e-mail classifieds@aerotechnews.com
CONTACT: Editorial Staff (702) 876-4039
For editorial staff: e-mail bullseye@aerotechnews.com
Commentary
My opinion is that it would be better
defined by a combination of several things,
to include those. There are people in this
world that don’t realize they are coura-
geous until the time comes for them to
stand their ground, run into the fire to
save a fellow Airman, or shoot back at
the person trying to harm you or your
comrades. Courage, my Air Force team,
comes in all shapes and sizes, daytime or
nighttime, and most importantly, it has
never been gender specific.
Some of you may have never expe-
rienced your “defining moment”. That
action or decision you will have to make
that makes you say “I got this”. That mo-
ment that makes you actually feel that you
faced it, stared it down, and won. Not only
did you win the fight with your fear, you
have proven to yourself that when the time
comes, you will have strengths you never
saw coming; courage you never knew
existed, and a pride and sense of commit-
ment you either forgot about or got lost in
translation.
I have had several instances since
given the honor of wearing this uniform
that have tested both my faith and my
resiliency, but I have never questioned my
loyalty or commitment to the job that I
Air Force symbolism also draws attention to
your online presence — the more military
pictures and information, the more atten-
tion. As in the movie Office Space, there is
a difference between 1 or 37 pieces of flair!
How much “military flair” is attracting at-
tention to your social media?
Social media web pages can potentially
be viewed by anyone with access to the
Internet, and this information is easily ex-
ploited. One piece of information by itself
may not be harmful, but multiple little pieces
put together can, like a jigsaw puzzle, present
a bigger picture.
Consider:
Jigsaw Piece 1. Post picture of self in
uniform
Jigsaw Piece 2. Add location to profile:
“Mountain Home, Idaho”
Jigsaw Piece 3. Post picture of your car
The Bullseye is published by Aerotech News and Review, available for purchase and use of patronage without regard
a private firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital
under exclusive written contract with Nellis Air Force
Base, Nev. Contents of the Bullseye are not necessarily the non-merit factor of the purchaser, user or patron.
official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, the
Department of Defense or the Department of the Air Force.
The appearance of advertising in this publication,
including inserts and supplements, does not constitute
an endorsement by the Department of Defense, the
Department of the Air Force or Aerotech News and Review
Everything advertised in the publication shall be made
The Bullseye newspaper can also be viewed online @ www.aerotechnews.com
Printed by Aerotech News and Review, Inc. (877) 247-9288 * www.aerotechnews.com
love, and that is having a hand in protect-
ing my country.
My deployment to Afghanistan was a
test to every piece of my character. But,
little did I know that this trip would hold
several of my “defining moments.”
After one of our many convoys and
about 10 minutes after I took off my gear,
rifle, pistol and boots, and sat on the bed at
the FOB, a 300-pound car bomb exploded
about 200 to 300 feet behind my building,
throwing me off the bed and into a wall.
Glass and shattered pieces of the wall be-
hind me where everywhere. The reaction
I had was not the one I expected. I threw
my boots and vest on, and low-crawled
down the hall to a female Army medic’s
room. Once I made sure she was ok, we low
crawled back into the hall. All I could say at
that point was, “Chamber a round, soldier.
Anybody that comes through that door
that doesn’t belong to us, put two in their
chest and one in their head.” Both of us
chambered our M4s, and laid in the prone,
scope crosshairs squared, and waited for
accountability, or at that point, a bad guy.
After that entire experience, I saw
what I could and would do when put in
the middle of chaos, and I knew I would
be able to handle anything. My faith was
which happens to be parked in front of your
house showing not only what you drive, but
possibly a license plate number, possibly the
mailbox with address on it, or a street sign,
or your house number.
You just made yourself an easy target for
anyone wanting to bring harm to a military
member or their family.
Also consider the possibilities if your
posting or profile has pictures of you; or
if it has enough information for a stranger
to find your residence. You then “check in”
at your favorite restaurant. You just made
both yourself and your unoccupied house
potential targets. You just became a target to
anyone who wants to take action against a
military member — they know exactly what
you look like and where you are. Your house
just became a target for any common thief to
break in and take your prized possessions.
status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other
The deadline for submissions to the Bullseye is
no later than Wednesday, 4:30 p.m., one week prior
to desired publication date. Briefs are due no later
than Wednesday, 3 p.m. one week prior to desired
publication date. Articles must also be submitted no
later than Wednesday, 4:30 p.m., one week prior to
desired publication date unless the editor provides
an exception to a late-breaking story or article, and
BULLSEYE
Facebook.com/NellisBullseye
restored, not only in my skills, but in my
sense of purpose. So, be out front, take on
challenges, and make changes. If you don’t
agree with something, let people know.
Don’t expect things to change or get better
if you just hang back.
President Harry Truman once said,
“Progress occurs when courageous, skill-
ful leaders seize the opportunity to change
things for the better.” Show passion, show
courage to stand up for what you believe
in. Show pride in the way you carry your-
self, wear your uniform, and dig deep to
find your true purpose. You don’t have
to look death in the face to be considered
courageous, but you do need to stand on
your own two feet for things, and some-
times, you may be standing alone, but
people will notice.
Don’t be the person with one foot in
the water, and one on the shore. Do a can-
nonball in the deep end of the pool, and
splash everyone.
I have always been committed to this
uniform, I still put it on every day for
different reasons than most. It’s not a uni-
form to me, it is a symbol of pride, and I
wear it as such. You never know, it could
be contagious. Your “defining moments”
are out there.
Is it worth the risk? Consider instead
“checking in” as you leave the restaurant if
you want to post a withering exposé about
the service received, or bring out your
epicurean side and rave about the delicious
dinner.
Take pride in being a member of the
United States Air Force and in the service
you render to the United States, but use
caution to go along with that pride. Social
networking is as much a part of modern
life as breathing, but similar to hyperven-
tilating, too much of it can be a bad thing.
Take a few minutes to review your social
networking sites: check the privacy settings,
the amount of “military flair”, and the sum
of the information you have posted — the
“jigsaw puzzle” available to anyone surfing
the World Wide Web. Are you comfort-
able with what you see?
articles must include a byline (author of the story).
For all submissions, a name and phone number of a
person to contact must be included in the event questions
arise.
All material is edited for accuracy, brevity, clarity
and conformity to the Associated Style Guide, to include
military ranks and proper writing etiquette.
Corrections: The Bullseye staff members strive for
accuracy each week. If you notice an error in fact, contact
the Bullseye staff at (702) 876-4039, or e-mail bullseye@
aerotechnews.com, and we will consider publishing a
correction when appropriate.