Lessons learned, lessons shared

  • Published
  • By Chief Master Sgt. Steven Clinger
  • 60th Dental Squadron

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Throughout our careers and lives, we all have instrumental moments where lessons are learned that ultimately shape and develop us as Airmen and people. I’d like to share some of the moments that I have had and the lessons I learned which have influenced and developed me both personally and professionally.   

I grew up in a small town in northwestern Pennsylvania. The area was very blue collar with the majority of people living in poverty. As a young boy, I would tell my father about my friends at school and occasionally he said, “I know his dad” and “He is a hard worker.” Those few words have a lot of meaning. They show pride in one’s name, honor, and respect in ones work ethic; and therefore, I always aspired to be a hard worker.

A similar lesson that resonated with me came from one of my wing commanders, Col. John Devilier. He used to say “No job is too small or menial, so do it to the best of your ability. He told a story of when he was a young lieutenant, complaining about receiving menial tasks. One of his enlisted leaders pulled him to the side and told him to do his best with whatever task he is given, and better opportunities would come. He took this advice and flourished. 

Another one of my wing commanders, Col. Bradley McDonald would always say “One person can make a difference.” Every single person in life is significant and has the ability to make a positive impact on others in a variety of ways. We must never doubt our importance and always remember a positive attitude is contagious.

One day, while at wrestling practice, I noticed my then 10-year-old son Bryson goofing around. After practice, I pulled him to the side and explained how important practice was and how his efforts there would reflect in his matches. Then I told him what I had always been told, practice makes perfect. He said, dad shouldn’t it be “Perfect practice makes perfect.” Wow, he was so spot on with this remark. It is imperative that we train exactly like we fight or compete to ensure we have perfected our skills.

While I was serving as the first sergeant for a security forces unit, during an enlisted leadership meeting, Chief Master Sgt. Christopher Radcliffe told the young leaders in the room that “Leadership is not convenient.” The fact is that leadership is not going to be easy, we can’t just pick and choose when and where, or how often to be a leader. It requires constant work and dedication and making tough, uncomfortable, and sometimes unpopular decisions.  However, once you realize that leadership is a privilege and not about you as the leader, but about taking care of your people first, the personal inconvenience to you will no longer feel so inconvenient.

Now retired Chief Master Sgt. Shelina Frey was the command chief at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, she routinely told the First Sergeant Council to “Take care of your Airmen.”  She told us to make sure we tell the commander what they need to hear and not just what we think they want to hear. Essentially, don’t just be a Yes Airman to your boss. Also, she would often say, “If you’re not uncomfortable, then you are not growing.” I have found this to be true in every aspect of my life. The majority of things that we are proud of achieving over our lives were challenging and came with a level of discomfort and a lot of hard work; causing us some growing pains.

From time to time, it is important we take a few minutes to reflect over our careers and lives. I ask that you never forget where you came from and I challenge you to work hard at everything you do. Always train like it’s real, maintain a positive attitude, make the tough calls, never stop growing, and make taking care of your Airmen your top priority.