COMMENTARY>>Slow down to get there faster

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

This week put into perspective that being the first out of the gate doesn’t guarantee finishing on top in a race or in our professions. In our give-it-to-me-my-way-and-give-it-to-me-now society, we end up repeating things we should only have to do once. This typically happens because we are in such a rush to finish versus providing the best product possible.
As we continue to operate in various parts of the world, executing at the proper pace while following correct procedures will determine our ability to project Combat Airlift. A good friend of mine would often say to me, “where there is heavy traffic, there will soon be an accident.” This was his way of telling me that, if not careful, moving too quickly or without proper preparation can lead to problems.

There are many ways to slow down to ensure all of us arrive together at our destination. One is to take an interest in those around you. Investing time in people may slow you down initially, yet the investment in them will yield great results. If we slow down to get to know those we see daily, maybe they may slow down and think when they are performing a task on-or-off duty. Can you recognize a person who may be having personal stress or are we too busy to notice the signs?

Many motorcycle fatalities are a result of people moving at excess speeds. I just got a sobering briefing today on a 21-year-old Airman who recently died on a motorcycle where excessive speed was a factor.

As teammates, are you aware of those around you who may be involved in activities that could put them at risk? Ironically, when we rush to do things and they don’t go as planned, we end up stopping to assess the damage. So let’s all endeavor to slow down to get there faster in regards to how we live, work and play.

Combat Airlift!