Are you keeping pace with your herd? Published May 9, 2007 By Maj. Miguel Medrano 90th Contracting Squadron commander F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo. -- While driving down Randall Avenue two weeks ago after an early morning physical training session, I had to slow down so a small herd of pronghorn antelope could cross the street. I was stopped for only about 30 seconds as a dozen or so antelope crossed leisurely in front of the 90th Mission Support Group dorm on their way to the parade field. After the last one crossed, or so I thought, I slowly accelerated when suddenly I had to stop on a dime, spilling my coffee, in order to avoid running into one final antelope frantically sprinting, trying to catch up with the rest of the herd, which by that time was already grazing on the parade ground. As I drove off, I thought about how that last antelope endangered its life by not keeping up with its herd. It occurred to me how amazingly similar we are to these antelope. Of all the professions, the military requires us to stay with the herd. Our herd is our squadron, our group, our wing and our major command. Our herd has its commanders. Keeping with the herd requires commitment, subservience to our core values and being constantly ready to deploy. It's okay to be a loner or individualistic, but there is safety in keeping with the herd. Predators have difficulty contending with a herd of alert, responsive antelope. The herd's mission depends on everyone keeping pace because when everyone keeps pace, the mission is accomplished. Think about all of the demands leaders of the herd put on you: medical readiness, physical fitness, ancillary training, technically proficient in your specialty, etc. When you're not keeping pace in these areas you put your career and the mission in jeopardy. If you're not able to fulfill your commitments here or abroad then someone else must pick up the slack. In an antelope herd, the elderly and young are in the most jeopardy. In our herd the uncommitted and unready are the ones in most jeopardy. Either you are rolling with the herd in a forward direction or you are slowing down the herd. If you look at it from this perspective, you will see that as military members we are part of something bigger than ourselves; we are much more than just individuals, we are part of a the world's most powerful armed force protecting the greatest nation in the world. It no longer matters why you decided to serve, but it does matter how your actions affect the herd. If you are not doing your part to be combat ready and tactically focused, you are slowing down the herd. Doing your part is making sure you are physically fit, medically qualified, technically proficient in your specialty, a good wingman and adhering to the high standards and core values we chose to live by when we took our oath to serve. From airman basic to general officer, everyone must keep pace, reaching out to others in the herd, building stronger relationships and teams, and improving our capabilities. As Airmen we must make sure no one falls behind or gets separated from the herd so the herd moves in a positive direction.