Healthy Airmanship

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. John Sieh
  • 9th Aerospace Medicine Squadron superintendent
BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  We are Airmen 24/7/365. It's true. As leaders, we frequently have the opportunity to make an impression on our fellow Airmen.

Supervisors and senior personnel will always be observed by our younger Airmen on or off-duty, on and off-base. This gives us the opportunity to constantly influence our future force. For this reason, I believe that NCO's and officers should always strive to improve their leadership skills.

Good leaders must lead from the front by setting the example with healthy behaviors. Healthy behaviors in relation to tobacco, alcohol, and fitness have an immediate positive effect on day to day ops, readiness, and physical fitness. They also have a long-term effect on an Airman's health.

As leaders, we must recognize that quitting a tobacco habit can be difficult. Encouragement to adopt or maintain a tobacco habit can increase that difficulty. Imagine the impact on an enthusiastic young Airman when he or she sees their supervisor smoking. Suddenly tobacco becomes a means for that Airman to share 15 minutes and something in common with their boss. There is scientific proof that tobacco use during the age range of our younger Airmen is more likely to cause a long-term habit which is tremendously harmful to their health.

Similarly, if we use alcohol irresponsibly there is an immeasurable negative effect on our younger Airmen. Responsible use of alcohol is a difficult concept for younger people who are still developing the experience and maturity to grasp it. If they see irresponsible alcohol consumption, it will influence younger Airmen that it's OK to do the same.

With unit fitness programs now mandatory for everyone, leaders should consistently participate and show that they aren't exempt. When we don't participate we send the opposite signal. It is good for us to consider doing our personal exercise at the base gym or running on base even if we might prefer to exercise elsewhere. Others will notice our activity and soon we will be known as leaders who take fitness and health seriously. This will encourage our Airmen to adopt the same attitude.

Airmen are always watching their leaders and sometimes we are unaware of their observation. They look to us for guidance on how to behave and we have a duty to be mature, and lead, both on and off duty. Healthy behaviors lead to healthy Airmanship, which will not only improve our own health but will also improve the health and readiness of our entire force.