Re-blue? This is a slang term the Air Force uses to describe going to a certain event to help you appreciate the Air Force more. It is usually used by service members to denote something they do not want to do. Well, tonight was one of those nights. As one of the base First Sergeants i was scheduled to see the Fifth Chief Master Sergean of the Air Force. Well, i was re-blued as never before. Maybe i was blued for the first time. I've always described pretty quickly to my friends that i miss the Army and the way some things were done. I believe the Army has a greater love for the Service and the Mission and what they are a part of - being a part of history is what motivates me daily to do the right thing.
Tonight, i got to eat dinner with an 80 year young man who led life by the nose and bloodied it a few times as well. Wow, what a man, what an example of who i need to be as a leader. I know individuals who try every single day to be the best manager they can. They believe that if they manage the numbers, the numbers will take care of the men. Manage the numbers because you failed the men. WRONG - WRONG - WRONG
I will never say anything less than - IF YOU TAKE CARE OF THE MEN - THEY WILL BRING THE NUMBERS YOU NEED. To the detriment of my career, i will put the men first every time. They know that if i have to ask them for more... i've asked because i've been left with no other course of action.
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Gaylor started his career in 1948 and still serves the men today. He told a story of how a First Sergeant early in his career changed his life forever. He remembers playing softball with the "shirt' and how much he admired him. I have the exact same story except that my shirt pitched and his played catcher. It just happened 50 years later.
I went to complain about a few things that really do need to be changed to better the life of those i serve and all i could do was sit and hope that i could just get a hand-shake and tell him what his stories meant to me. Thats what he did - he just sat around and told us stories of growing up in the air force - seeing the changes and being a part of what "was". This world has never been and will never be perfect, but there are small moments in our history where individual men do the right thing knowing that it may cost everything. Men stormed the beaches of europe and parachuted in knowing they would never return - some stayed at their post so that others could make it home - and some refused for four and a half years a chance at early parole from a prison camp because he would not leave his men. John McCain suffered beating almost every day of his 6 plus years in prison becasue he REFUSED to leave his men behind. His daddy was a general and they wanted to release him - he refused and suffered for it.
You know, the life within the service is not perfect, but WHEN THE RAIN COMES, i choose to think about the sun light right around the corner. WHEN THE RAIN COMES, i choose to remember those before me that did the right thing no matter. WHEN THE RAIN COMES, i'll choose to remember Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Gaylor's tears as he spoke of the love of those he had served with.
"Always take care of the least, before you consider the rest" sarge...
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