What I Most Appreciate About My Career

Regardless of what job we hold, or the career path that we have chosen, there are elements that we can immediately appreciate, or upon reflection, learn to appreciate. Although there are many differences between private and public sector careers, appreciating certain aspects of those careers is something that I believe is shared between both sectors.

I am fortunate in the fact that I have spent my entire career in the same organization, the United States Air Force. I began at the very lowest level possible. New, young, and inexperienced, I made plenty of mistakes along the way. I am now at the pinnacle of my career and nearing retirement as a Senior Enlisted Leader. The number one aspect of this position that I appreciate the most is my ability to care for my team. Throughout my career, I have worked with and for some amazing people. Their level of professionalism, dedication and motivation were second to none. Conversely, I have worked with and for some that were none of that. As I progressed and matured, I learned the importance of reflecting on the experiences I had with both types of personnel. I learned what to be, and more importantly, what not to be. Now, as a Senior Enlisted Leader, I have been provided with the opportunity and empowerment to have more of an impact on my team than I ever have before.

In my opinion, there is nothing worse than preparing to go to a job that you hate. When I took my current position, I saw an opportunity to change that outlook for those that I lead. I appreciate the fact that my commander gives me the autonomy, authority and trust to handle any and every issue that impacts my personnel. I take care of my folks. Their problems, whether they are professional or personal, are my problems. We work together to resolve them. I regularly praise them for the positive effort and outcomes of their work. I make sure that they know that they are appreciated and that what they do has meaning and value, every day. Additionally, I appreciate that those that I lead have trust in my ability to represent them when they need me most. I learned long ago that when you take care of your personnel, they take care of you.

However, none of this has happened in a vacuum. The USAF embraces several constants and values that are conducive to creating all that I appreciate.

·         United States Air Force Core Values

o   Integrity First

o   Service Before Self

o   Excellence In All We Do

·         A Clear, Accessible Chain-of-Command

·         Clearly Written Policy and Guidelines

·         Leadership Development

·         Mentorship Programs

·         Recognition

·         Family Care

There are many things about my career that I appreciate. The one aspect of my career that I appreciate the most is my ability to lead and care for those around me. Although my personnel may not love coming to work every day, they certainly do not hate it. This is clearly reflected in the quality and quantity of effort and outcomes of their work.