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Airmen can share their Air Force experience through WEAR

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Gypsie King
  • 80th Flying Training Wing
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Editor's note: The We Are All Recruiters program grants Airmen permissive TDY status if they are participating in an event that directly enhances the recruiting mission. All Airmen, regardless of their Air Force Specialty, are recruiters.

I recently had the privilege of using the We Are All Recruiters program when attending the Pony of the Americas futurity horse show in St. Louis.
  
Before I left Texas, I contacted a recruiter in the 345th Recruiting Squadron and asked if he, or any individual in his office, would be interested in attending with me to help promote the Air Force lifestyle and benefits of the military. While Tech. Sgt. Brandon Archer was already committed elsewhere for the week, he did send two Airmen who were participating in the Recruiter Assistance Program - Senior Airman Jodi Johnson from Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., and Airman 1st Class Zane Walker, en route to an assignment at Tyndall AFB, Fla.

Armed with a goody bag of hats, T-shirts, pens, key holders and various other items, the three of us talked to any and every one who would stop or stand still long enough to let us tell them about the military and the benefits of the life that we live and they could possibly live.

It was amazing that these two Airmen didn't realize that in their off-duty passions they could still represent the Air Force, and talk to people who already had been living by the Core Values and just didn't realize it.

In her off-duty time, Johnson is a body builder and has a competition coming up soon. Walker, who just graduated from the F-22 School here at Sheppard, is passionate about racing. While he doesn't have a car just yet, he plans to start building one soon.

Both these individuals had no idea that in showing horses, bodybuilding or even racing, the competitors in each sport are just the types the military needs. People with commitment, honesty, dedication, humility and pride. People who know that whether with a horse, personal trainer, or a pit crew, you are still part of a team. When one part of the team succeeds, we all succeed, and when one part fails, we all fail.

There are so many people in the military who don't fully understand the team concept, but I hope that even in my final months before retirement, I have done what I could for these two Airmen to show them that bigger picture.

Again thank you for this opportunity. Much like my incentive flight, I'll never forget it!