Become a better Airman in 2011

  • Published
  • By Col. Gary Gottschall
  • 615th Contingency Response Wing
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  By any measure, 2010 was a banner year for Team Travis. The operations tempo throughout the year was staggering yet our Airmen, civilians, partners and families were consistently up to the task.

As we look back and assess how we did, it quickly becomes obvious that the team set and maintained very high standards as reflected by our superior mission performance and the sheer number of mission related accolades and awards.

Additionally, annual awards for units and individuals seemed to flow at a steady pace while quality of life and installation improvement projects constantly moved forward.

Everyone should be very proud of the many accomplishments in 2010 and understand the intense effort and dedication it took to achieve so many things. After such a superb year, undoubtedly everyone is looking ahead to 2011 wondering what challenges lie ahead and how we will meet those challenges.

Throughout history, Air Force Airmen have never been satisfied with the status quo. The continuous pursuit of excellence and innovation has been our hallmark and enabled us to remain the best Air Force in the world.

As we move forward, unit leaders should be thinking about how they can continue to improve their units in 2011. In the same way, every individual should think about how he or she can improve and strive to become a better Airman.

Everyone has an area in life that could be improved. The problem is, not everyone is willing to make the effort to do something about it and make a positive change. It doesn't matter which area you select to improve as long as you commit to making improvements and dedicate yourself to that end.

Avoid the monotony and potential depression associated with the inability to change and improve and having every day seem just like the last; set realistic personal and professional goals and track your progress. Tracking progress is the key; it keeps you focused on the goal and the incremental steps needed along the way to reach your goals.

Becoming a better Airman can come in a variety of areas and can be as simple as improving fitness, completing online courses or studying for a promotion. Some may select more challenging undertakings such as learning a language, learning to play a musical instrument or quitting smoking.

Deployments offer an exceptional opportunity to set and achieve goals. Don't finish a deployment with nothing to show for it but a long time away from home and a few extra dollars in your bank account.

A command chief that I spent some time with while overseas used to brief newcomers about setting and achieving goals and he had a memorable phrase ... "make the days count, don't just count the days." Those who made the days count came back better Airmen; those who just counted the days missed an opportunity.

No one knows exactly what's in store for 2011, but one thing is sure -- our nation will continue to count on us to be ready to answer the call so take the opportunity now to improve yourself and become a better Airman.