You may now call me Airman Leader, if you prefer, OR I just got me my green rope!

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
41

I think you have drawn some inaccurate conclusions about me, A1C Joe. I am NOT a person who thinks that I am better than anyone else. I chose to become an Airman Leader so I could get an idea of what leadership is all about. I am not on an ego trip at all. Think about it-why would I do something that detracts from my personal life, my schoolwork, my leisure time, and gets me both disrespect from people who hate authority and the MTLs who don’t think I do the job well enough? It’s all about sacrifice, sir. I have my own selfish reasons for wanting to do this, however.

The primary reason above and beyond the leadership issue is my promotion to Senior Airman. I am eligible for promotion to Senior Airman right about the time I leave Keesler, and I was told that if I have a rope my promotion will be endorsed favorably. So there you go. You want to call me a brownnoser, go ahead. I’m in it for life, so the sooner I can get to ALS and get Staff Sergeant the better. I’m sorry if you can’t or won’t understand that.

As far as being a mini TI…well, yeah. If you know me and you know what dramatic changes I have gone through, you’d realize that I WANT to be a TI. I can’t think of a better group of people to emulate. They are among the best Airmen in the Air Force, and they turn out the best Airmen in the Air Force, and I would consider it to be an honor to be counted among them.

Also, I have pulled exactly ONE 341, and as I turned it in to an MTL I gave him my opinion that this Airman, who was having very severe personal problems at the time, should not be punished but instead counseled. That earned me a butt ripping for telling an MTL how to do his job. So yes, I care about the people I am in charge of, and I will do anything for them that I can possibly do. I do not just do things to prove how special I am, and I never will.

So, A1C Joe, my dedication to my service runs very deep, and as you question my motivations you question my integrity. That, sir, is something I don’t appreciate, but you may keep your own counsel if you like. Just realize that if you need me, I’ll be there, and I would hope that despite your obvious distaste for people like me you would still be willing to do the same for me.

-A1C Dave Cartwright

42

Dam’, Doors, that was a helluva response. Way to go, son.

I would like to add that a good leader, a REALLY good leader, is trying to keep his people OUT of trouble, not get 'em in any. If you have to do that by going to The Hammer, it should be after all other tools have been tried. And apply exactly enough to correct the behavior - no more, and no less. If the measure is correct, you will have inflicted less pain than that follower was headed for in the long run.

A1C Joe, I am saddened but not surprised that you haven’t encountered a single decent student leader. If nobody is teaching them how to do it right, they’re forced to rely on trial-and-error, and it’s no wonder some of 'em get it wrong. Hell, SOME of 'em may never realize how badly they carried out their duties. And we can guess what kind of NCO they’ll be.

But here’s the important thing to remember: there is NO PERK to compensate for making yourself responsible for young military people, when you’re still one yourself. Doors is doing it for leadership experience, and a better shot at BTZ selection. Nothing wrong with that. But what he should know, what anybody that asks for responsibility of other people should always keep in mind, is this: It ain’t always a way to the top. If you OR THOSE YOU’RE RESPONSIBLE FOR screw up, it’s all on you.

So, if he adheres to the core values, you can keep the snide comments to yourself, Hoss, unless you’re willing to put it on the line, too.

43

Bravo Airman Doors, I wish every airman, both officer and enlisted, had that outlook. It didn’t take me long to notice that some people don’t understand the responsibility that goes along with the power their position or rank gives them, even when they were taught better than that. But it only made me respect the true leaders even more.

And I see I’m not the only Doper to enjoy a pleasant stay in San Angelo. Just 1.5 more months and no more Goodfellow…until I inevitably have to come back again for some other training. :frowning:

But at least I’ll be free from AETC…

44

Bravo Airman Doors, I wish every airman, both officer and enlisted, had that outlook. It didn’t take me long to notice that some people don’t understand the responsibility that goes along with the power their position or rank gives them, even when they were taught better than that. But it only made me respect the true leaders even more.

And I see I’m not the only Doper to enjoy a pleasant stay in San Angelo. Just 1.5 more months and no more Goodfellow…until I inevitably have to come back again for some other training. :frowning:

But at least I’ll be free from AETC…

45

sacrifice does not always have to be admirable