Commentary Search

MISTAKES HAPPEN: How will you handle them?

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Daryl Knee
  • 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs
I approached Warren's main gate in my vehicle late one night. 

Just as I've always done, I touched my seatbelt to reaffirm it was there, withdrew my wallet from my back pocket, slowed to the correct speed limit and switched my headlights to only the parking lights. 

I'm a nice guy. All of these things I do so I don't cause trouble for anyone. It was an ordinary event during an ordinary night. 

After greetings were exchanged and my ID returned, I drove into the base with a smile. Even if I'm not doing anything wrong, I always feel relieved after a police encounter. 

I continued the drive toward the dormitory. I rolled my window back up, cranked the volume ... and immediately lost my breath when I noticed a police cruiser flashing its lights behind me. 

What had I done? I'm a good Airman; I don't deserve to be pulled over. 

After an embarrassingly long moment, a security forces member tapped on my window.
"You've been driving with your headlights off." 

Harrumph. I looked out of the vehicle's windshield to make sure. There's no way. However, streetlights painted the scene, not headlights. I looked at the light lever. It was turned to off. 

A couple of explanations came to mind, all of them without self fault. As I was preparing to blurt out anything that would save me, I closed my eyes, took a deep breath and said, "You're right." 

As a civilian, sure, I would have said anything to escape from justice. I would lie, cheat or steal to avoid punishment. 

As an Airman, I know better: I did wrong, and I will pay for it. Plain and simple. 

I waited as the officer explained the dangers of what I just did. He asked if I had been drinking. He wanted to know where I was going, what I was doing and why I was out so late. 

A period of uneasiness followed as the officer checked the vehicle registration and proof of insurance. A sigh escaped my body. As I waited, my mind wandered. 

Sometimes, people do foolish things. No one is immune. And it doesn't matter if it's accidental or with purpose. As an Airman or even a decent human being, one should always follow through with the consequences and accept them as atonement. Only then will integrity actually mean anything. 

I snapped from my thoughts with a start as the officer again tapped upon the window. I braced for a ticket. 

"We're letting you off with a warning." 

What, no punishment? Scott free, I thought with a laugh. I continued the drive to my residence. 

Many uneventful days have passed. The weird thing, though: I've learned a consequence doesn't always mean punishment. 

Because of what happened that night, I have never since driven on base with my lights out. I firmly believe I will never do so again. I still turn them off when driving toward the guards, but I'll never forget to relight the road. 

We all make mistakes. Accept the facts, learn from them and move on with your life.