Take time to recognize your Airmen's hard work

  • Published
  • By Chief Master Sgt. Michael Williams
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing command chief
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Tonight we, the 60th Air Mobility Wing, culminate the year 2006 with our Annual Awards Banquet with our theme being "A Salute to America's First Choice."

I know you've purchased your ticket, dusted off your mess dress/semi-formal attire, purchased a new gown or suit for what is certain to be an electrifying evening.

Our nominees will be overflowing with both nervousness and excitement as they prepare to graciously take center stage. I can see them now rushing in what would appear to be a comical panic searching for a tie or tab, a sock or shoe.

An obscene outburst will undoubtedly surface as a run in a stocking is discovered and those infamous words are echoed, "We have to hurry or we will be late!" Finally, a sense of calmness prevails when some ask, "How do I look?" Moments later they emerge at the Delta Breeze Club in the likeness of champions and true professionals.

The Delta Breeze Club will be decorated like never before and the ambiance will be that of elegance. Our annual awards banquet committee, led by Senior Master Sgt. Dawneen Williams, anchored by Mrs. Deb Arquiette and a host of others, unselfishly dedicated their time and labored tirelessly to make this a memorable occasion for all who attend ... Thank You!

I'd also like to extend my deepest gratitude and thanks to the authors of the AF Forms 1206, board members for scoring the packages, executive assistants for editing the 1206s and the many contributors, because ultimately you made tonight's banquet possible.

We're faced with some very busy and challenging times. And yet, it's important for us to take time to support and recognize our superior performers. We're so focused on mission accomplishment and the numerous changes we're experiencing that we often forget or take for granted the personal, and professional sacrifices our people make every day for this great nation.

I believe this is the reason "Recognition of Efforts" remains amongst the top 10 reasons people depart the Air Force.

Recognizing our people for their outstanding contributions must be of primary importance. We must understand recognition stimulates professional pride in those that witness the recognition. It's a means to reinforce our organization's culture and to retain our top performers.

"People First, Mission Always" must be more than just a slogan. Those four words must become a means of existence in our Air Force. The idealism of people being the top priority should permeate from the wing commanders down to the lowest ranking individual.

We have people disbursed across the globe, from sea to shining sea, doing great things for this sweet land of liberty. Our people don't do what they do because they expect or want recognition. They do it because they're proud Americans.

Some of us fail to nominate our people for awards because we're too busy and others approach attending an awards banquet as if it's a chore to don the uniform and dedicate a couple of hours acknowledging the efforts of our comrades ... that's a shame!

To our nominees I say, "Well done. Unfortunately not all of you will come out victorious.

However, your nomination makes you the best of the best for 2006."

I'll see you at the banquet!