“Dude 14, we’ve just located 10 anti-coalition militia in a bunker located 300 meters from our position! Request an immediate strike on that target!” Imagine hearing those words screamed into your ear and knowing that in the next moment you were about to execute a task that you trained seven years to do. This was my situation during my first combat sortie in Afghanistan. It goes without saying that employing weapons against enemies of the United States comes with a great amount of responsibility. The Air Force invested considerable time and resources into training me to skillfully execute my mission in the F-15E Strike Eagle. My duty title on paper is Weapons System Officer however, there is always a story behind each and every member of the Air Force that encompasses more than just a duty title. The goal of this essay is to reveal a little bit about my own personal story highlighting how my background and values led me into the Air Force, address what I feel are my most important Air Force experiences, and illustrate how my job specifically contributes to the Air Force’s mission. I grew up near Atlanta, Georgia where there were no active duty Air Force bases nearby. I also come from a family with no military background and was never encouraged to join the Air Force. I joined because my own personal internal reasons and nothing else. I played on my high school baseball team for four years, and in that time I grew to love the hard work, commitment, team work, and sportsmanship that it took to succeed during the season. In fact, between my junior and senior year of high school, the traits I learned from playing baseball stopped becoming traits and they started becoming my complete persona. I wanted to find a career field... ... middle of paper ... ... that I bestow on them will be what they are armed with when they are flying combat sorties wherever they may be. Even though I am no longer deployed to Afghanistan, the knowledge that I can pass on will still thrive in the F-15E community and allow others to complete the mission of the 4th Fighter Wing. Being an officer in the Air Force is something I am very proud of. In addition to being an officer, I am honored to be a Weapons System Officer in the F-15E. Inside both the Air Force and the F-15E are values that I held dear from an early age even before joining the Air Force. I was lucky enough to be in a career field where all of my training led up to a pinnacle of saving American lives in Afghanistan. After the combat time was over though, the new challenge was to pass that knowledge onto the next crop of aircrew to which I am currently proud to do serve.
As leaders and fellow soldiers, it is up to us to make sure our soldiers and friends live out our legacy. It is up to us we train them well enough so they are able to train the next war fighter generation and think back how we accomplished the mission.
Since the conflict in Vietnam ended, the military has been an all-volunteer force. This means that generally people are in the military because they want to serve, albeit the motivation for service can vary across a wide spectrum of reasons.
Patrick, Joe. “Testing the Rules of Engagement.” Vietnam Memoirs. 2003. 80th Fighter Squadron. 13 Nov. 2003.
Although I grew up in a military family, I never saw myself going into a military career. Up until I was about fourteen years old, I planned on being a marine biologist in Hawaii. Sounds nice, right? Well, at the end of my eighth grade year I decided that I might as well join NJROTC, because all of my friends were doing it and it seemed okay. I have to say, looking back, I was quite naive. Joining NJROTC was the smartest and most valuable decision I have made to this day.
The Army has transformed several times during its history. Adapting to the operational environment is a necessity for the force called upon to prosecute its adversaries. The Army must do what is necessary to protect the U.S. against all enemies, and advance the national interests of the American people. To accomplish this, anticipation of threats is crucial and victory against its adversaries is an imperative. The nation relies on the military for strategic level deterrence and expects that it will be decisive in combat operations. For the military to be successful, it is important that transformation adapt to meet these expectations by conforming to the requirements of a successful force of the future in order meet any new threats in any environment around the world.
The Army has been in existence since 1775 when Congress authorized the creation of 10 rifle companies (Army Birthdays 2011). The standing federal Army was created in 1803 followed by a series of reforms to the Army professional education system (Dempsy 2014). I will argue that the Army is a Profession of Arms by showing a system of continued learning, training, and growth; the code of ethics held by the Army; and the level of autonomy afforded Army leaders and their Soldiers.
As you can see it was not a single factor, but a combination of many that led to me join the USAF, and a critical series of opportunities that have led me to the position I now occupy. The unique experiences and expertise I have allow me to help ensure the capabilities of the F-22 Raptor are delivered to the war fighter in a timely and cost-effective manner, thus ensuring the USAF maintains Air Superiority long into the future.
I was at Fort Benning Georgia in August 1988 to attend jump school. I had done my basic training here four years earlier with Sgt. Smith who would be my black hat true instructor for airborne school. I was standing in formation at five in the morning. It was cold now, but Georgia has hot, humid daytime temperatures that were draining mentally and physically for a student from Northern California. I knew I wanted to be here even though there would be physical and mental stresses, challenges and the possibility of serious Injury. The students would be weeded out at every point. I did not want it to happen to me. During my four years in the Army, I learned that I like to be an independent, resourceful, goal oriented problem solver. In the infantry, I had to obey the orders and not think for myself. Uniformity in everything was demanded.
I have asked myself, “Why do I want to be a military officer?” I want to be a military officer so I can be a role model to all Soldiers and civilians. To be an expert in a field of study, so that Soldiers approach me for advice and be a leader to look up to. An officer that knows right from wrong, willing to put the needs of their Soldiers before my own. Lead, mentor, and form young Soldiers to know what it is to be an American Soldier. To keep the traditions of being a military officer as it moves forward in our generation. This is why I want to be an officer in today’s military.
I have led, recognized and employed the strengths and talents of those Airmen entrusted to me. I have lead from the front only because I have earned the trust of those behind me. I believe in and embody our service's core values in my personal and professional lives. I am the 'Whole Airman' through excellent technical aptitudes, unrivaled commitment to duty and a genuine desire to improve our force. Time and time again, and without reservation, my family and I sacrificed our wants and time for the demands of my profession. My family and I fully understand what this transition entails and as an officer, I will be fully devoted to the duties and Airmen entrusted to me. As a prior-enlisted officer, I will empathize with my Airmen ensuring their contributions are recognized and further develop them in every facet that is our Air Force culture. Finally, as a commissioned Airman, I intend to serve long and decisively to honor those that have served before us, my family’s proud military heritage and my wife and daughter…who drive me to be successful and strive for every new
CF02,Full Range Leadership Development. (2012). Maxwell Gunter AFB. Thomas N. Barnes Center for Enlisted Education (AETC)
...d me with our staff and Soldiers we have been given the opportunity to lead. The time and effort spent will be well worth it. Possessing a shared understanding of the operational environment will aid in our planning process when conducting operations throughout our theater of operation. In every operation we execute we know that we will accept prudent risks, identification and mitigation of those risks will determine our ability to accomplish our mission. Incorporating the principles of mission command by building cohesive teams through mutual trust, fostering an environment of shared understanding, and accepting prudent risk will make me an effective adviser to the commander, aid the staff during the operations process, and provide an example for Soldiers to emulate. My involvement in all aspects of mission command is critical to the success of our organization.
Being a soldier was a really tough life. In the end I hated doing the same thing day after day with no change in sight, I despised the leaders that didn 't take care of their subordinates, and most importantly, I couldn 't lead my soldiers from the front anymore. I 'll be the first one to say that joining the army was the best thing to happen to me. I have grown so much as a person and the lessons I learned are invaluable. In the end I realized the negative factors outweighed any possible benefit I might receive from continued service. It was time for me to
I grew up in a small town and after I graduated high school I wanted more in life than a 9 to 5 job; I wanted to see the world. I had a few friends that had joined the military and had come home to visit with exciting stories about their experiences. I noticed a change in a few of them; they seemed to walk a little taller, maybe act a bit more mature. This, along with the intrigue of life outside of my small town, drew me to consider joining the military. I met a recruiter in Lakeland Florida in July of 1989 and a few months later on September 26th I raised my right hand and took the Oath of Enlistment. I had no idea what I had gotten myself into.
I want to be and officer so that I can be the example for the new soldiers who come in full of ambition and dreams. I want to be the leader they can trust and follow into any situation no matter what it is. However, I also want to be someone they can rely on and talk to whenever something is going on in their lives. I want to be an officer so I can help those around me and change the Army for the better. I know as an officer I’m set to a higher standard and that what I do and the decisions I make impact everyone around me.