'I have arrived!'

DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. (AFNS) -- When I made staff sergeant, I thought, "This is it! I have arrived!"

My ego was quickly squashed when my supervisor informed me that not only was I going to continue the duties I was already performing, but now I also was getting three Airmen to supervise, mentor and lead.

After several years of studying and working hard, I moved on to the next level. When I made master sergeant and joined the senior NCO ranks, I thought, "Certainly this is it. I was shown the secret handshake. I have arrived!"

Once again, reality slapped me up alongside the head when I realized I had even more people to supervise, I was responsible for the smooth operation of the section, and I needed to step up my community service, self-improvement and base involvement if I wanted to get promoted again.

A few more years passed, and I thought I was a lot wiser. I had the graying hair and subtle wrinkles to prove it. When I made chief master sergeant, I thought, "Holy smoke! I'm finally a chief! I'll get a special parking spot, take long lunch hours, play golf every Friday, and I won't need to do anything extra because I'm not going to make 'E-10.' Surely, I have arrived!"

The truth is I haven't arrived. I've just begun. If I want to make this Air Force better for those who come after me and want my Air Force -- our Air Force -- to continue to be the best, most feared air force in the world, then I have to show our future leaders and the American public that it's not okay to sit back on my laurels and it's not okay to abuse the stripes I have the privilege of wearing. If I believe in our core values and don't want to become the epitome of the old adage, "Do as I say, not as I do," or one of those ROAD (retired on active duty) sergeants, then I need to:

-- Take responsibility not only when things go right, but especially when they go wrong
-- Continue with my off-duty education, because knowledge is power
-- Volunteer within my unit, base and community
-- Identify problems and have possible solutions on the ready for my superiors
-- Lead from in front of my desk, not behind it and the email I send
-- Support all Airmen through events such as graduations, promotion ceremonies and retirement ceremonies, regardless of whether or not I have a personal relationship with the stars of the show
-- Pick up that piece of trash in the parking lot that so many have just walked by or on
-- Always exceed the standards and not be afraid of hurting someone's feelings or being the bad guy when correcting others

In one form or another, these things have been a part of every creed we have ever had. The list could go on and on.

Do I want to make "E-10?" Of course I do. And I want to not only earn my paycheck, but hopefully, just hopefully, when the time comes to close this chapter in my life, I will be able to look in the mirror and say I gave it my all and I made a difference in some Airman's life.

No, I haven't arrived. Have you?