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Taking pride in recognition

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kathryn R.C. Reaves
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  Across the 20th Fighter Wing, Team Shaw members are working hard every day to get the mission done.

Each individual assigned to this wing is vital to what we do.

Some may then wonder why so many people unfamiliar with the Air Force assume every Airman is a pilot. This, in part, is contributed to by the lack of recognition brought to other career fields.

I do not mean awards, which our amazing Airmen receive often, but showing the community who we are as individuals and teams.

To help educate the outside community, 20th FW Public Affairs specialists go to as many work centers as possible seeking to highlight the skill and dedication of all Shaw members.

However, that is easier said than done.

PA Airmen may be greeted by individuals who love to show what they can do or they may meet people who shy away and defer to a wingman instead.

When this resistance occurs, it can interfere with the specialist’s ability to effectively communicate to the general public how the work center and its Airmen are crucial to the 20th FW mission.

Some people feel embarrassed when opportunities for recognition come up, but each time we share our stories it helps others understand the military is made up of unique individuals.

It tells them the Air Force is made up of a diverse group of people with unique experiences and hopes that chose to dedicate themselves to their team and a common goal: defending our nation.

Whether the focus is on making the mission happen, the successes of Airmen or on the unique lives of military families, sharing our stories connects us to the community with similar goals: to work hard, take care of our family and grow as individuals.

The next time you are given an opportunity for recognition, take pride in who you are and what you do, knowing you are part of a small percentage of the population who has stepped up to secure our homeland.

After all, not every Airman is a pilot, but every Airman is essential in our mission to fly, fight and win.