Saturday, September 17, 2016

High Standards Are Relative

This past year I have had the privilege to write posts spotlighting amazing individuals who have each held themselves to high standards in a variety of ways. After spending the past 10 weeks as one of forty-three Air Force officers in military training I have been overwhelmed by numerous fresh examples from across the country and world. It was too difficult to choose just one member to interview so I decided to write about the whole class :)
This experience revealed to me that to keep your standards “high”, or to “raise” them implies there is a relativism involved when it comes to things like standards. Although I subscribe to the belief of an ultimate standard that I fall short of regularly, it is also in our day to day interactions with individuals where we choose to live a life that drags the standards of others down, or lifts them up. These constant interactions sharpen each individual involved much like iron sharpens iron to become a better version of themselves.
While spending 10 weeks around some very impressive people I felt my “high” standards tugged at in both directions. This tug back and forth was a challenge I am very appreciative of because it pushed me to grow and not be content with where I was at. Below is a short tribute to the members of Raptor and Lightning II flights and the short chapter of life we shared together (warning, this is one of those "you had to be there" type poems).

Flying and driving we made our way

43 lives on a 10 week track to that graduation day

Raptors appreciated our Miller time while L2 enjoyed their tips from Pitts

With a class full of leaders, talent and sass there were many highs with very few dips


Friends and weight were gained @ NOLA and Half Shell

Although some tabs and tales we rather not tell

Acing tests, community service and 0500 PT balanced us out

With shared stories from Hart and hearts we continued our 38P route

Forming, storming, norming, performing oh yeah that is part of our class reel

Next stop: kicking butt at OFE, with Red Horse Cadre wondering “are these O’s for real?”

With MREs, tents and Turkey we came together

With a host of memories, this time spent has  made us each better

Keep your standards aimed high even if you may miss the mark now and then
Know your integrity, service and excellence set the stage for the next gen
Remember what taking chance means to you for the suit of duty we each wear is a tailored fit

Bang Bang!...Woooow! Time flies…thank you all and know every day...you saw this coming...it was worth it

- Banner1




1 comment: