What's your sign? Published June 6, 2008 By Master Sgt. James Herkel 455th Air Expeditionary Wing BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan (AFPN) -- Comedian Bill Engvall is famous for his shtick on certain people wearing the "I'm stupid" sign. Doing so will make better sense to others when they ask, say or do stupid things. What does your sign say? Maybe it says, "I'm a sheep." Or perhaps you're just wearing a big target. Hopefully, you bear a large placard that reads, "I'm ready. Bring it on!" Our enemies are checking our signs. They don't especially care about what your Air Force specialty code might be or what qualification badge you wear on your chest. In fact, the only part of your uniform that really matters to him is the small segment above your left breast that reads, "U.S." By now you are surely wondering, "How will I know if I'm wearing the wrong sign?" If you can't remember the last time you cleaned your weapon, you are surely wearing a sign that reads, "Don't count on me." And if your running shoes have a thin (or thick) layer of dust on them from the lack of use, your sign probably says, "Somebody please be prepared to take care of me in an emergency." Maybe you find yourself constantly being reminded to tuck in your PT shirt, or to remove your hands from your pockets, or to get a haircut. You get the idea. If you're that person, your sign very likely says, "At the critical moment, I'll do what's convenient and probably not what's right." Our enemies will probably read these signs as large targets. The less than subtle message here: Don't be a human vulnerability. Don't be that guy. Since our enemies always have the advantage of choosing the time of attack, it makes good sense to always be prepared. This means knowing the plan, maintaining good situational awareness, staying fit and healthy, taking care of your warfighting equipment, and most importantly, taking care of one another. To use a great old adage, none of us are as strong as all of us. This is especially true during adverse conditions and a great philosophy to guide you while deployed. To guarantee you wear the right sign today, take a good look in the mirror and evaluate yourself. Are you fit to fight? Do you know your responsibilities if attacked? Have you rehearsed these actions individually and with your team? Do you wear your uniform in a way that will represent yourself, your unit and the Air Force favorably? Are you looking out for your wingman? So what does your sign say? It's your choice. Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link) View the comments/letters page