Altruism: Would you take one for the team? Published Nov. 7, 2012 By Master Sgt. Vernon Ashley 349th Force Support Squadron TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- What are you prepared to give up and sacrifice? Not too long ago, I was honored to be asked by Master Sgt. Gaylen Clemons, 349th Force Support Squadron, to pace her for her fitness test run. She started her test alongside a colleague with the same time constraints she had. About three laps into it, her tired partner started to fall behind. Realizing her buddy was having more troubles than she, Clemons asked me to take care of her partner, and make sure she finished. I was perplexed; Clemons had asked me to support her, she was worried she'd fail. Yet, she asked me to help someone else, so I did as she asked. In the end, Clemons passed her test, even if it wasn't her personal best. I stayed with her colleague, pacing her to a passing finish, too. It spoke volumes to me, Clemons had the opportunity to knock one out of the park, instead, she chose to sacrifice bunt to move a team mate up another base. The reward wasn't just for those two people on the field, but for the whole team. One more fitness monitor didn't have to take time away from their program to start a paper trail. One more commander didn't have to document a physical fitness test failure. One more section didn't have to be concerned with being down a member and the list goes on. None of that happened, because one Airman willingly gave up her support system to help another. So ponder this? What are you prepared to give up or sacrifice? If you're that chaplain who gets that middle-of-the-night call from a grieving widow, are you willing to give up sleep to comfort the grieving? If you have that troop long overdue for recognition, will you give up those extra free moments, you may have outside of your duty day, to write that narrative so that they can get that recognition? If you're that section chief who's sitting at the door and watching the clock; are you willing to give up those extra few minutes so the people you lead see a section chief who cares more about the people and the mission than trying to beat traffic out the front gate? For that veteran who wants to be remembered for the sacrifices they made in their day; are you willing to sacrifice your Saturday of fishing to sit down and reminisce about the days of old? If you're on the front line; are you willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, and dive on that grenade, if giving your life means that other warrior can kiss their child goodnight one more time? Those sacrifices can be many things, and can range in many sizes, but in the end it comes back to you and what you're willing to do for the team. If you don't know who the team is, look around you and you'll see. It's that co-worker, your troops, your bosses, your community, your neighbor, your country and yes, even your enemy. Let your sacrifices speak of your character. In that moment Clemons, sacrificed her support system for the greater good. The volumes that it spoke of her character were enormous. I'm sure if you ask her, she'll say it was nothing and there was no sacrifice. But if you ask her colleague, I'm pretty sure you'll hear a different story. What sacrifice are you willing to make for the team?