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Energy, enthusiasm fuel squadron annual

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Erin Rost
  • 319th Recruiting Squadron
JBSA-RANDOLPH,Texas --  

“What does being the best mean to you?” Master Sgt. Nicholas Ellis, the 319th Recruiting Squadron’s new production superintendent, asked the crowd. A hushed murmur filled the room as the audience contemplated the answer to the seemingly trivial yet surprisingly difficult to answer question. Then, the room fell silent as a member of the 319th RCS stood up to face the presenter and confidently replied, “Being the best means being uncomfortable. It means waking up every day with the intention of being better than you were the day before.” Applause erupted around the room, and a palpable energy seemed to rise up and fill the air. With this, the 319th RCS 2016 Annual Conference was officially underway, and true to the 319th’s motto of Recruit the best, With the best, To be the best, the contagious energy and enthusiasm present at the opening ceremony flowed seamlessly into every room, event, and presentation to make this year’s conference, indisputably, THE BEST.

Although we expected to have a good event, we were overwhelmed by the enthusiasm the event created. In a year where goal increased and manpower decreased to below minimal manning levels, we managed to achieve the impossible by boosting both Air Force pride and morale. There was no big secret to this accomplishment. Instead, our success emanated from good old-fashioned hard work and a commitment to rise to the challenge. This year’s banquet guest speaker, retired Chief Master Sgt. Bobby Jacques supported this point when he demanded for the crowd to “be risk takers and don’t be afraid to fail. You’ll learn more from failure than from success.” With a bold attitude and unrelenting effort, the 319th is eager to continue to meet the challenges that lie ahead with the wisdom to learn from failure and the drive to continually improve and achieve success. We are currently implementing this commitment to success in a variety of ways.

Fundamentally, we are setting quantifiable goals for each person, each flight, and the squadron. These goals are placed under four unique pillars: Consistently train to exceed mission requirements, develop and practice resiliency, establish and maintain the highest military standards, and execute the recruiting mission. We trust that just as a building, tower, or house is made stronger by the quality of the pillars that support them, so too will the squadron be strengthened and driven to new heights by the guidance and support of the pillars presented above.

To this end, we are committed to being prepared for anything to happen and CONSISTENTLY TRAIN TO EXCEED MISSION REQUIREMENTS by increasing the number of CCAF degree holders and ensuring members of our squadron are pursing PME opportunities. Additionally, we have committed ourselves to DEVELOPING AND PRACTICING RESILIENCY by ensuring a representative of the base chapel is present to attend at least 50 percent of quarterly trainings, ramping up our booster club involvement in squadron events, and improving communication and support for our squadron-members’ children and spouses. Furthermore, we are ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING THE HIGHEST MILITARY STANDARDS by increasing involvement in the highly influential Non-commissioned officer council and Senior NCO council as well as improving our squadron-members’ fitness levels and leadership abilities. Finally, we are EXECUTING THE RECRUTING MISSION by reserving all assigned jobs, enhancing Delayed Entry Program management, and taking all necessary actions to strive to achieve the AFRS Standard of Excellence. With all of the above projects in place, we are incredibly excited to see what our commitment to being THE BEST will bring in 2017.

“If that didn’t get you motivated for this year, then you shouldn’t be in recruiting,” was the unofficial moto the 319th’s Annual had garnered by the conclusion of the event, and we could not agree with this statement more. We do not yet know what 2017 will bring, but we do know that the 319th is going to be uncomfortable and use every single day to strive to be better than we were yesterday, last week, last month and last year. After all, that is what BEING THE BEST is all about.