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Editors note: This is the second story in a three-part series about first-term Airmen working different jobs at Ramstein.
Fresh into the military, a first-term Airman might not know how they personally impact the base mission. Learning how something as simple as putting in a bulb fits into not only the day-to-day tasks at Ramstein, but also to service members deploying, can shine a light on an Airman’s place in the Air Force.
For Airman 1st Class Rashad Spann, 786th Civil Engineer Squadron electrical technician, its taking every job and doing them with all of his abilities that keeps him in the game.
“No matter what you’re doing, whether its cleaning or doing a simple job like changing out a light bulb, you want to get it done to the best of your abilities,” Spann said. “If that means wiping down the entire fixture and not just the casing, then I would do that. Show excellence, and don’t just try to get it done quickly.”
Taking time to make sure work is accurate can mean the difference between a perfect finished product or having to go back and re-do it. For Airmen like Spann, putting pride into his job brings new knowledge that matters.
“You can easily get a job done quickly, but it’s about how much pride you take in doing your work. So, you want to make sure you put your all into whatever you do,” Spann said. “I enjoy my job. I learn something new every day.”
Having love for the job not only helps Airmen have a more successful career, it can also create bonds within the workplace. Building that connection with other Airmen in the shop helps Spann and others get their work done more efficiently. Having two minds with different levels of experience can help both individuals learn more about their job, but for younger Airmen, having the NCOs there for help is a huge benefit.
“We have a pretty strong bond with our NCOs,” Spann said. “They go out on jobs with us, and if we have any problems or if we want to keep them in the loop, we will let them know and they will give us feedback. They don’t mind sitting down and taking time out to talk to us.”
NCOs teaching new Airmen how to do their job more proficiently and giving help with personal problems can show Airmen how to have excellence in everything they do. The core values are meant to set the right path for Airmen so they can have a successful career.
“The core values are good to fall back on because not everyone lives by them,” Spann said. “To me, having service before self means putting your job in the military before yourself rather than trying to rush to leave from work when you have something to do in your spare time when you still have a job you have to get completed. It’s the mission first.”
Some Airmen don’t come to work to just win awards, but supervisors and peers will notice when an Airman is motivated to do their job correctly every day.
“Spann’s work ethic is not exactly what I would expect out of a typical Airman first class,” said Tech. Sgt. Timothy Stolicker, 786th CES NCOIC exterior electrical shop. “He is a leader among his peers and someone for them to look up to. He is motivated and self-reliant with extremely high self-confidence. His attitude and way of thinking is contagious to his co-workers. They are motivated, and I feel (they) work harder when he is in the area. He is tough to keep up with sometimes.”
Realizing that Airmen are part of something bigger than themselves can motivate them to push harder. Getting nominated for awards by one’s supervision can show how much dedication someone is putting into work.
“He is our representative for the electrical section and realizes he is a part of something bigger than just another Airman in the mix. We are all excited that he is going up for the Airman of the Month and are confident he will do well,” Stolicker said. “I tell my guys if no one will notice if you have PCS’d or are gone on vacation, you probably aren’t putting enough effort forward. Everyone needs to leave their foot print, and I can tell you in the short time A1C Spann has been here, he has done just that. It would take two average Airmen to fill what he can do in a typical day.”
Fitting one’s self into the right place in the Air Force can be as easy as fitting a new light bulb in it’s fixture. Using dedication, advice from peers and core values will provide power to the overall mission.
