Are you a left pocket or right pocket Airman?

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Brandon Martin
  • 9th Civil Engineer Squadron
BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  I would love to say that I came up with this saying, but I did not. So I better credit my source. I learned of this neat saying on my recent deployment to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. 

I had the honor of serving as the First Sergeant of Task Force Med-A.   One of my many duties was counseling and mentoring Airmen. I always try to have the Airman's supervisor in the room, so we can work as a team to help out the counselee.

On one particular occasion, this young Airman was making choices that didn't align with one of the USAF's core values -- service before self.  As I was talking to this Airman, her supervisor, Master Sgt. Larry Paddock, asked her if she wanted to be a left pocket Airman or a right pocket Airman.

I am sure the look on my face was the same as hers, a look of confusion.  I looked down at my uniform, and it hit me. The left pocket has U.S. Air Force over it, and the right has your last name.

After the counseling session, I began to reflect on some of my own decisions throughout my career.  I can say when I first came in I was all about the USAF, but that didn't last too long. Somewhere I transitioned to being a right pocket Airman. That transition was met with letters of counseling, letters of reprimand, and many, many memorandums for record. 

When I was a right pocket Airman, I decided that "Service before Self" shouldn't apply to me. When I moved to RAF Lakenheath, I was fortunate to get a tough supervisor. He was tough on me, but he slowly taught me through his actions and his words what it meant to be a left pocket Airman.

So I ask you, are you a left pocket or right pocket Airman? When faced with a choice, do you immediately try to do what is best for you, or do you think the situation out and make the absolute best decision? Do you balance the two?

I believe that is the key to being a world-class Airman -- balance between the USAF and yourself.  This can be hard to grasp, but I know that each Airman in today's Air Force is capable.