CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- Diamond Notes is a monthly column from the 27th Special Operations Wing's First Sergeants. The First Sergeant is a special leadership position held by Senior Non-Commissioned Officers. They report directly to the commander as his or her adviser concerning the enlisted force. He or she is responsible for morale, welfare and conduct of all enlisted members in the unit.
According to Col. Aaron Bank's book, "From OSS to Green Beret: The Birth of Special Operations", men like "Wild" Bill Donovan, William Darby, and Frank Merrill "would smile if they could see the state of Special Operations in the 1990s."
Imagine what they would say about us now in 2012. The 27th Special Operations Wing is an integral part of today's elite force, made up of hard charging Air Commandos protecting our nation from those that would do us harm.
As an Air Commando and first sergeant, there are 10 great lessons I've learned and hope you consider as you grow and potentially lead future Air Commandos.
1. Allow your people to put their names on the mailbox
Someone once asked Chief Master Sgt. Gaylor, chief of Air Force 5, why he always worked in his yard in the hot Texas heat instead of hiring someone to do it for him. "Because my name is on the mailbox," he said. "That, ladies and gentlemen, is pride and ownership."
2. Service before self does not mean service instead of self
If you don't take care of yourself, you won't be strong enough to help others. Just like on an airplane, you must put your oxygen mask on before assisting others with theirs. Be disciplined, follow the rules and set the example.
3. We are all on the same team, including the Office of Special Investigations, the Area Defense Council and Legal
We may be working towards a different outcome, but we all serve the U.S. Air Force. So, in the end, treat each other with dignity and respect no matter the outcome.
I had a supervisor I couldn't stand and was so happy when he moved to another base, only to encounter him again six years later. It's good to play nicely with others because you never know who you will work with later on.
4. Be impeccable with your word!
Speak with integrity - say what you mean and mean what you say. Use the power of your voice carefully. If the commander says, "in this squadron we piss excellence," don't be the Airman that tells the commander, "sir, I was just doing what you said, pissing excellence" after you are arrested for urinating on someone's mailbox at 3 a.m. while drunk. That really happened!
5. Don't put the monkey on your back
When troops come to you with a problem, don't feel sorry for them. Teach them the skills they need to solve it. Let them talk through it and pick the path to success themselves. Do not solve it for them--that is letting the monkey jump on your back. It is not your weight to carry, so don't rob them of the opportunity to learn.
6. Be true to self
Don't read a couple of books on leadership and go around quoting catch phrases you memorized. Trying to be who we are not, or even just desiring to be someone else, will bring frustration and unfulfillment. If you are trying to be someone you are not, you are telling yourself that you aren't good enough. You are good enough, or you wouldn't be where you are. Perhaps you just haven't yet recognized your strengths and talents.
7. There are three sides to every story, and the truth is usually somewhere in the middle
Don't assume someone is lying to you if they give you a different version of an incident. It may appear, however, in reality it's their perspective. Just as we've heard that men are from Mars and women are from Venus, people interpret situations differently.
8. No one knows everything, do your own research
Trust but verify what someone tells you. You will learn more that way and become a better Airman with the knowledge you gain. No one cares about your paycheck or your career more than you, so take charge of it. If an Airman that was court-martialed and separated from the Air Force tells you that you can drive your privately owned vehicle to the civil engineering yard and fill it up with free rocks, you should verify that advice. This also really happened.
9. Don't forget to laugh!
It's proven that laughter helps you cope with stress. Just like when an Airman told me, "first sergeant, I lost my common access card over the weekend while in Albuquerque. I have no idea why the bouncer at the club took it and would not give it back to me." When we finally got the CAC card back from the club and noticed the birth date appeared to have been changed by a ball point pen, all I could do was laugh. Trust me, I can't make this stuff up!
10. We have two ears and one mouth for a reason
Be a good listener, have compassion, but don't patronize. Expect excellence, but realize we all make mistakes so find the lessons in them and learn. Be thankful for another opportunity to improve and leave things better than you found them. Don't whine and complain, but instead find the solution and make recommendations to your leaders.
In the future, as in the past, American Special Forces will be called upon to conduct critical missions in the face of overwhelming odds. It is a task we can look forward to with confidence, because the tradition of Special Operations is one of excellence. Donovan, Darby, and Merrill would be proud of what we have accomplished in the 27 SOW, and you should too. Now, go LEAD!