Personal Responsibility: A blessing not a burden

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tim Beckham
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  The most important thing to remember about personal responsibility is we may not be responsible for all that happens to us, but we are responsible for how we think, feel, and act. 

When it comes to the Air Force, personal responsibility goes hand-in-hand with integrity first. 

"Personal responsibility is extremely important to Airmen since it is directly related to one of our core values ... Integrity," said Tech. Sgt. Charlotte Cardy, 39th Maintenance Squadron acting first sergeant. "This means being responsible for your actions both in public and in private. You have a personal responsibility to be the kind of Wingman that looks out for your fellow Airmen." 

Everything from alcohol awareness and physical fitness to financial management can be considered types of personal responsibility, Tech. Sgt. Viviana Gatica, 39th Medical Group Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention and Treatment program noncommissioned officer in charge, said alcohol can have a perilous effect if you don't exercise personal responsibility. 

"Although most people think that it takes being a very heavy drinker to have negative effects on health, even occasional drinking can pose a hazard," she said. "What a lot of people don't realize is that after two or three drinks their judgment is already clouded. The problem is that point, many people may not feel intoxicated but their brain is affected nonetheless." 

Drinking can also lead to poor judgment and bad decision making.
For example, Sergeant Gatica said, "a person who may only drink on weekends, but has four to five or more drinks per episode, greatly increases their chances for physical injuries, drunk driving, engaging in unprotected sex and other high risk activities. So as the person continues drinking he or she is more likely to make bad decisions and do things they would normally not do if they were sober." 

Obstacles arise every day; how someone deals with those obstacles is what sets them apart - good or bad. 

"There is the old saying 'what doesn't kill us, only makes us stronger,'" said Sergeant Cardy. "Obstacles might seem insurmountable at the time but by striving to do your best you can overcome them. Remember you are never alone. We are an Air Force family and there is always someone, somewhere around to talk to if you need assistance when facing adversity." 

Even though personal responsibility falls squarely on the shoulders of the individual there are programs to help. The Health and Wellness Center offers fitness and nutrition classes. They also offer classes to help someone quit using tobacco products.
Personal irresponsibility may not only hurt your career, but it can also keep you from achieving your goals. 

"If you came into the military with intentions of getting school done, seeing the world and bettering yourself, yet you find yourself at the club every weekend, that's just another opportunity lost," said Sergeant Gatica. "If a person does decide to slow down and finds it hard to do, or can't control it, this is when additional help is available and ADAPT can help the person reach their objective." 

For more information call ADAPT at 676-6452.