Compliance: your thoughts, will, direction

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Steve Martin
  • 81st Training Wing UCI preperation team assistant
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  Everyone complies with something whether we realize it or not because we live in a compliance world. Compliance is something we do without thinking. If we breathe, we are complying with the laws of biology. We can only enjoy using electricity if we are in compliance with the laws that govern its power. If we want to fly in an airplane, we have to comply with the laws of gravity and aerodynamics. Compliance can lead to wondrous possibilities but non-compliance can lead to a negative impact.

The military is made up of checklists, procedures, operating instructions, standard operating procedures and many other types of compliance guidance. The civilian sector also has the same type of guidance -- our city, county, state and federal governments all have to comply with guidance written for them by the people who provide oversight for those organizations.
You can accomplish great things when you choose to follow the laws, procedures, guidance or checklists that have been presented to you. Your thoughts about the checklists and your will to complete the checklists will set in motion your direction to either just get by or find ways to bring an "outstanding" rating to your shop and into your life.

Henry Ford once said "Whether you think you can, or you think you can't -- you're right."

Decide today to set the new standard for your area and the direction of your career. The Keesler Airmen that have stood in your shoes in the past set a level of compliance that we should not only uphold, but work to exceed.

Having been deployed most of the last four years, I have had the great opportunity to work with outstanding Airmen, Marines, Sailors and Soldiers. In the deployed environment you can quickly tell if someone is of the nature to pursue excellence or just accept mediocrity. We train to deploy and survive so we can make it home. That training is also based on compliance.

It takes every decision that we make individually and collectively to maintain the freedoms we enjoy and the freedoms we provide our families, friends, loved ones and those who can't defend themselves. The yields of your labor will be a direct reflection of your thoughts, will and direction. You can either spend your energy pursuing an "outstanding" rating or fall into complacency. I encourage you to join me at setting the goal to exceed the known possibilities.