Careless decisions can have life-altering risks

  • Published
  • By Chief Master Sgt. Michael Williams
  • 60th Air Mobility Command command chief
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Team Travis it's Friday, Friday and what an incredible week! I'm currently TDY. However, I wanted to share a story with you. This past weekend we witnessed two additional DUIs. 

This act of irresponsible choices continues to baffle me-Airmen placing their lives and the lives of innocent civilians at risk. Our Airmen and their families must realize that every decision results in a negative or positive consequence. 

As a young lad growing up in the South, my mom and grandmother consistently instilled upon me to be better than the next person and regardless of how many accomplishments I achieved, one mistake would erase a thousand at-a-boys; sending me to ground zero. In other words, one moment in time changes everything. 

I played high school basketball with a young man, named "Hoops" who was a year my junior and arguably one of the state's most prominent players. "Hoops" completed high school but wasn't highly recruited by major colleges. After spending some time at Fork Union Academy, where he blossomed, he ended up playing for the University of Massachusetts, Julius Erving's Alma mater. He finished his career as UMASS' all-time leading scorer and later earned a tryout with the Detroit Pistons. His tryout lasted five exhibition games; he made friends with Joe Dumars, Isaiah Thomas and John Salley. Hoops was the last player the Pistons released before their season journey to an NBA Championship, began. 

Months or so later Hoops attended a party with some friends, a fight ensued and someone ripped a prized chain off of his neck. He chased the culprit into the street where he was subsequently hit by a car. Hoops laid in a coma for an unknown period of time only to awaken with a hairline fracture to his skull and his dreams of playing professional basketball shattered. Doctors later discovered cancer in his jaw and were forced to reconstruct his face in order to remove the deadly disease. 

A few years ago, while at home on leave, I ran into Hoops. We joked and laughed about old times, and discussed the journey to his current state. Hoops is not the same young man I once knew; the accident completely transformed his personality. That one moment, the decision to chase after his necklace, changed Hoops' life forever. 

I'm not saying Hoops made an irresponsible decision when he decided to chase after his necklace however, the fact remains that that one moment in time changed everything for him. We must make responsible choices and realize every decision has a price tag--how much are you willing to pay for a careless decision?

Your decision not to enforce standards, to take short cuts or not uphold your responsibility as an Airman are all compromising positions and are moments in time that can change everything. 

Team Travis, have a great weekend. Be safe, make responsible choices and I'll see you around campus.