First impressions; They do matter

  • Published
  • By Maj. Laurie Arellano
  • 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs
F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. --  I've been assigned to F.E. Warren for a total of over eight years, both previously active duty and now as a reservist. 

Despite the fact that my house is out of town, that I've often had a year or more in between periods of duty here and that I've worked months at a stretch at bases throughout Air Force Space Command and several other commands, I've always considered Warren my base. 

So, when I returned to work here earlier this month, it felt like coming home. 

The morning of my first day back, it was a nice day, and I decided to walk to the shopette for coffee and then walk to my office. 

As I was walking from the shopette, I heard a car behind me, and as the driver pulled up next to me, he asked me if I needed a ride. 

I thanked him for asking, and pointed to the headquarters building and said I was just headed over there. 

As he pulled away, I realized he had gone out of his way to stop by and I was pretty sure we didn't know each other or have any other reason to cross paths except for the kind gesture he was offering. 

That was a great first impression, and it made me think how that is an important part of our upcoming inspection. 

As an Air Force, as a command and as a wing, we've been through a lot in the past year, and we're about to undergo the toughest inspection we've faced in decades. 

I've been told to expect nothing less than the experience of taking a final exam from the toughest teacher you've ever had, and then thanking them for raking you over the coals. 

We have more to prove than ever before, but it's in these times that some of the smallest acts shine through. 

I'm not talking about acts like having records neater, responses faster and processes more efficient. 

But rather, acts that go back to the basics of our core values; having the integrity to identify where something needs to be corrected, serving your team instead of yourself, and setting yourself to the highest standards of excellence not just in your job, but in 
everything you do. 

And that brings me back to first impressions. 

Like the Airman who offered me a ride to work, who did it because he felt it was the right thing to do. His action spoke louder than any checklist can. 

While we are in the process of proving ourselves to the American people through this inspection, we are also in the process of proving to the inspectors and to our Air Force leadership that we have something to hold our heads high about. 

First impressions will matter. 

We don't have to go out of our way to be positive because we have our game face on, we do it because we're proud of who we are: the Mighty Ninety.