Your three words

  • Published
  • By Col. Barbara King
  • 60th Dental Squadron commander
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Have you watched ABC News' Good Morning America video segment entitled "Your Three Words?" From military spouses and their children saying "I Miss You" to their loved ones in Iraq or the young couple celebrating with the sign "Having a Baby," the video uploads have been eloquent expressions of life and hope.

That made me piece together three-word expressions I want to live by as an Airman in this great Air Force and as a productive member of society. I hope you agree with some of the following and it stimulates you to come up with some of your own!

Have a compass: An internal one, that is. You must figure out what your priorities are and always go "Back to basics." Develop your spiritual side ... establish an on-going relationship with God. Develop your physical side ... be fit to fight, not just for the fitness test, but as a way to conduct your life. Develop your personal side ... to have a friend, you must be one. We spend time with those we care about. And finally, develop your professional side ... the Air Force profession not only lets you obtain in-depth knowledge in your Air Force Specialty Code, but also gives opportunities outside the realm of your job description. A good rule for growth -- stay out of your comfort zone at least 10 percent of the time!

Email travels far:  Email is a great tool, but there are some down sides. Be careful what you write before pushing the send button. What you may intend for one person's viewing can and will easily be spread to many other people. You can't retrieve them and your reputation may be attached to it.

Save for retirement: According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, private citizens, over the last two years, saved 0.4 percent of their disposable income, down from 3.6 percent in 1997 and 7.7 percent in 1992. Having access to the Thrift Savings Plan provides Airmen an easy way to begin saving. Determine an allotment to come out of your paycheck before you see it ... once it is in your pocket, it probably won't go back to the bank.

Share your wealth: That can be with life's experiences through mentoring, or financially. It feels good to be able to care and help someone through giving to your local church, United Way or Air Force Assistance Fund. Where do your interests lie?

Set high standards: Let's say it is as simple as coming to work on time. Face it, if the officers and senior NCO's don't do it, how will you enforce it with the Airmen and NCOs? But it goes far beyond that ... financial accountability/integrity with the Government Travel Card, fraternization, telling the truth ... you name it.

Encourage one another: How many times have the words "Thank You" or "You did a really great job with that!" made you hold your head up higher and leave work whistling a tune? Everybody is dealing with personal and work issues. Take the time to encourage someone today. It does make a difference!

Listen before speaking: This is difficult to do because we want to be heard ourselves. The best ideas can come from the Airmen doing the task. Be willing to listen and learn.

Practice smiling today: Customer service is all about caring for others. You can even tell by someone's tone on the phone, whether they are smiling or not. A smile goes a long way in opening doors for conversation and dissolving tense situations.

Three core values: Integrity First, Service Before Self and Excellence in All We Do. We have memorized them, but do you really hold yourself accountable to them as you face daily situations? The Airman is a person of integrity, courage and conviction. An Airman's professional duties always take precedence over personal desires. Every American Airman strives for continual improvement in self and service.

Air Force Memorial: The three spires of the Air Force Memorial in Washington, D.C. are awe-inspiring. The Memorial itself is 280 feet high and appears to be soaring; its array of stainless steel arcs against the sky evokes the image of contrails of the Air Force Thunderbirds as they peel back in a precision 'bomb burst' maneuver. Only three of the four contrails are depicted, as the absent fourth evokes the "Missing man" formation traditionally used at Air Force funeral fly-overs. I love that memorial! Seeing it makes me so proud to be an American and an Airman.

Be a wingman: Trust your intuition. If something doesn't seem right with someone ... you know what? It probably isn't. There is never a down side to getting to know more about people. Look out for one another.
What are "Your Three Words?"