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| News > Command Chief's advice to NCOs: Network, mentor and work hard |
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(Left to Right) Col. Eric Axelbank, 65th Air Base Wing vice commander, Tech. Sgts. Bryan Butsch, 65th Civil Engineer Squadron, Lenita Robinson, 65th Medical Support Squadron, Matthew Offhaus, 65th Communications Squadron, and Chief Master Sgt. Samuel Hagadorn, 65 ABW command chief, pose during the completion of the Non-Commissioned Officer Academy at Ramstein AB, Germany, Dec. 16. (Courtesy photo)
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Command Chief's advice to NCOs: Network, mentor and work hard
Posted 1/6/2011 Updated 1/6/2011
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by Chief Master Sgt. Samuel Hagadorn
65th Air Base Wing Command Chief
1/6/2011 - LAJES FIELD, Azores -- (Excerpts of the graduation speech to the graduating Class 11-2 Kisling NCO Academy Class 11-2, delivered on 16 December, 2010 at the Ramstein Officers' Club, Ramstein AB, Germany.)
Class 11-2, I have just three thoughts and challenges to share with you this evening, and I promise to keep my comments brief!
Thought #1: Network! Class 11-2 - you are represented tonight by 151 Technical Sergeants of 89 Air Force Specialties from locations all across Europe. You average 13 years time-in-service. If I've done my math correctly, you have a combined 1,963 years of military experience! There are many outstanding Airmen among you--quarterly and annual award winners at Wing, MAJCOM and even Air Force level. And you're educated--53 of you have earned associate's degrees, 11 have bachelor's, and 2 have even completed master's degrees. With diverse career paths and experiences, each of you has unique experiences to share. Now, add to your student body the incredible staff of the Kisling NCO Academy, and we have an environment that can only breed success!
Thought #2: Mentoring. Personally, I don't like the term because it has become a concept so convoluted in recent years, it has sometimes come to mean, "Teach me how to get promoted and to my dream assignment." This is the shallowest of interpretations. In this context, it disregards our core value of Service Before Self, and implies finding the 'shortcuts', or the 'unfair advantage.' I like Retired Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Sam Parish's view on mentoring. He says, "If you're looking for a mentor who will help get you promoted and the assignment you want, you're missing the point!" "Mentoring," he goes on to say, "is about grooming subordinates to assume your duties." One of your primary duties as an NCO and leader is to train someone else so they can take your place without the mission missing a beat!
Thought #3: Hard Work. Sometimes there's just no substitute for hard work. Back in the late 80's, I missed a promotion to Technical Sergeant by less than one point - just 6/10ths of a point, to be exact. I could have blamed this on a supervisor who didn't submit a decoration when I PCS'd two years earlier, since this would have given me a high enough score to be promoted. But that wasn't the case--it was my own fault. If I had worked a little harder and answered one more question correctly, I would have been celebrating a line number, rather than "pass-over." It was all up to me, and I hadn't worked hard enough.
Three simple thoughts: networking, mentoring, and hard work. Now, I pose to you these very same thoughts as three challenges:
Network! Continue developing relationships, even after you return home.
Mentor those you lead. Keep this in mind: As an NCO, it's impossible not to be a mentor. One thing you can count on: When you return to work, they'll be watching you. They'll want to see what's different about you.
And finally, work hard. Whatever your profession, do it with all your heart! You all know by now, it's much more than a '9-to-5' job. Give 100 percent--if it's possible, give more.
So continue to deliberately develop your Airmen...I know you will. Class, I can say without reservation or apology, it is because of leaders like you - the graduates of Class 11-2 that we are the greatest Air Force in the world! |
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