Page 174 - Never Fly Solo

SERVICE BEFORE SELF | 147
long hours in the back office, I never asked him how things
were going. I never inquired about his family or his personal
life or if he had any health issues that were concerning him.
Why was he spending so much time at work and never taking
lunch? Why was he smoking two packs a day and putting on
weight? Was there something going on that I wasn’t aware
of? Instead of really connecting with him like a true wing-
man, I barked orders at him and never really thought about
what I could do to help him deal with his issues. I did the
easy thing: I put him on probation and stuck him on a fitness
program. I expected him to serve me, but I never served
him.
I was his boss, but I wasn’t his wingman.

THE MISSION OF SERVICE

What I learned that day was that to make a difference as a
wingman, you have to go above and beyond. I wasn’t doing
enough.
To me, the mission was about getting the job done in the
life support shop. It was not about the people. Sergeant Sum-
mers had a mission, but I didn’t know about it, because I
never asked. I needed him, and so did the squadron, but he
had another mission. He had a life outside that life support
shop. Watching him in his hospital bed that day, I realized
that his mission, now more than ever, was his wife and kids
who stood by his side.
“Service before self” is one of three core values of the Air
Force. They are called the armed services for a reason. And
service always involves sacrifice in some way. It means giving
something.
When people are in trouble or experiencing a challenge in
life, they may not have the courage to ask for help. They may