Chances plentiful to learn in our lives

  • Published
  • By Chief Master Sgt. Charles Monk
  • 621st Contingency Response Wing command chief
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., --  When we talk about learning opportunities in the military, what is the first thing that leaps to your mind?

It might be some sort of Professional Military Education. Perhaps you are thinking that learning opportunities focus more on taking some college classes in pursuit of your Community College of the Air Force, bachelor's or master's degree. Some folks might even focus on that computer-based training course they need to complete their required ancillary training.

All of these examples are important to each individual member and the Air Force as a whole. These are the more formal learning venues we see and most of them are routinely presented to our Airmen as something they should do. There are other opportunities, though, that I consider just as important and much more challenging to find and practice because rather than having them pushed on you, you must pull them out of your daily life.

One of the more obvious examples can be found in the technical aspect of our careers. You can expand your knowledge and learn the current aspects of your job by reading professional journals, either civilian or military. Ask someone in your shop for guidance on a procedure with which you may not be familiar.

Additionally, if you take it upon yourself to learn and commit to memory the Air Force Instructions that govern your specialty, you will not only hone your professional skills, but you might just become one of the respected experts in your field.

Another arena filled with learning opportunities exists in the area of leadership. Thousands of books are written on the subject and are just waiting on the library and bookstore shelves for you to read.

Another excellent opportunity in leadership comes from the study of human nature. Learn to watch people and find out what makes them tick. Think about your supervisors both good and bad and determine the things you can draw from them as examples.

While considering leadership, you can also look for opportunities to study Airmanship. Find out about all the great Airmen who preceded us in the Air Force. You can do this not only by reading biographies and histories, but by taking time and talking to some of the retirees who happen to visit base or that you contact within our community. They have great stories to tell and great lessons to learn.

While you are out in the community, get involved. Volunteer for something that you've always wanted to do. You will likely learn something new about that organization, the community or that specific event. Even more, I find that this is a great opportunity to learn something about yourself.

These educational venues should not be seen as something only our young Airmen need to do, either. All of us should be working on improving ourselves. If you think you know it all, that is a sure sign that you don't.

I learn something new about our communities, our Air Force, its past and the men and women who serve in it every single day and it enriches my life. I encourage you all to do the same.