TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. —
Every Airman within the pressure has an obligation to help the United States’ means to quickly undertaking deadly fight airpower when crucial. However, what personally drives every particular person Airman to excel of their profession discipline might differ through the years.
Senior Airman Cameron Richardson, 337th Air Control Squadron weapons technician, who enlisted within the Air Force two months after graduating highschool in 2019, is not any stranger to assembly excessive expectations. During highschool, he was energetic in Air Force Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps, a federal program meant to familiarize younger adults with the navy. He recalled an award ceremony that he invited his mom to attend, not realizing it might find yourself altering his life.
“I didn’t win a single award, not even the basic ones that were given out,” Richardson remembered. “My mom looked me in the eye afterwards and said, ‘Don’t invite me to anything else where you receive nothing,’ So, I told myself that day I was going to put my best foot forward from then on.”
When he made the choice to enlist within the Air Force, he determined to provide it his all. Since then, he has made an inventory of accomplishments corresponding to primary coaching honor graduate, technical coaching distinguished graduate and has acquired cash from a number of Air Force leaders together with Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Joanne S. Bass. His most up-to-date accomplishment is being chosen to advertise to the rank of workers sergeant, scoring the best in his profession discipline on his first time testing. Richardson says he feels prepared for the supervisory place regardless of being enlisted for what he considers a brief three years.
“It is a bit crazy to think I could be put in charge of troops who may have a lot more life experience than me,” stated Richardson. “But I have to remain confident that I have the Air Force knowledge necessary to lead them to success in this particular sector. They can offer me knowledge on their individual experience and I’ll learn from them. It is an exchange of information on both ends.”
Richardson is aware of simply how vital it’s to have sturdy leaders in an Airman’s profession as he’s leaning on his personal management to assist him navigate being the brand new father of an 8-week-old child boy.
“In the Air Force, we talk a lot about the importance of a work-life balance,” defined Richardson. “Communication is a huge part in that balance. At first, I was scared to tell my leadership I wanted time off for baby appointments. I was assuming it would look bad on me but I was completely wrong.”
Richardson says the understanding management fashion given to him was essential for his well-being throughout one of many scariest and most enjoyable occasions of his life. Not solely was he permitted to attend his associate’s physician visits, however as soon as he returned from paternity go away, he was capable of take a protracted lunch once in a while simply to go house and test on his household.
“Coming back to work was hard,” stated Richardson. “[My unit] made sure to ask how they could help, even cooking us meals. Leadership is fully supporting me, and my partner is fully supporting me, and that motivates me even more to keep going and not let them down.”
At work, Richardson is often in command of serving to safe the airspace between Eglin Air Force Base and Tyndall in help of F-22 Raptor and F-35A Lightning II coaching missions, however his work doesn’t finish there. Richardson is set to do his greatest at work and at house, striving to be somebody his son can look as much as.
“I want to set the example for my son,” Richardson concluded. “I want to have something to show for him.”
