COMMENTARY>>Doing the right thing is a choice

By Chief Master Sgt. Anthony Brinkley
19th Airlift Wing Command Chief

Every day we wake up, we are faced with many decisions that personally affect us as well as those around us. They range from what we decide to eat or being on time for our obligations, to what type of effort will we put forward during our workday. Yet each of us has the ability to choose to be a positive impact in our environment based on the choices we make.

I believe each of us has control over two aspects of our lives: the effort we put out and the attitude we carry with us everywhere we go. When faced with the opportunity to badmouth a peer or teammate, do you jump straight to negative comments or attempt to find productive ways to address your concerns? Some people have moved up in life because of relationships versus competence, only to hurt the organization later on due to lack of ability. When faced with doing the right thing, do you let relationships outweigh reality? Regardless of the situation, each of us has the ability to positively control how we conduct ourselves.

I’ve heard it said “If you have to hurt someone to help someone, all you’ve done is hurt someone.” Doing the right thing may be uncomfortable, but in the end you walk away with your integrity and credibility intact. Even though doing the right thing is a choice, it’s a choice each of us needs to make. I can recall as a young Airman that another Airman around my age died due to not following proper checklist safety. Twenty years later, I still reflect on how this tragedy could have been avoided.

Our nation was founded on standing on the principle of doing what is right over what is convenient. So let’s all endeavor to fight the temptation of taking the easy way out as we do the right thing for ourselves and those around us.

Combat Airlift!