Squadron commander: resolve to challenge yourself

Published Dec. 17, 2009
By Col. Christopher Lentz
315th Aerospace Medicine Squadron Commander

CHARLESTON AFB, S.C. -- The New Year presents each of us with new challenges. Every January, we feel compelled to make resolutions that have a positive impact on our own life and the lives of others. The word resolution comes from the word resolute (Latin) meaning "firm, unyielding, determined." The implication is these "promises" are made with a firm commitment to "make good" on the decision. Despite the deep, inherent meaning, less than 50 percent of Americans make resolutions, and only one out of four actually succeed in keeping them. There are many reasons for failure; the most frequent being that they are overly ambitious. Most people fail within the first month and are unlikely to resume their resolution as time passes.

Why wait until January to "resolve" to be better? New challenges face us every day and not necessarily on our time schedule. In October, I was faced with two new career opportunities. I was recruited to run the only burn center in the State of New Mexico where I made a firm commitment to have the program nationally accredited within two years. I was also chosen to command the 315th Aerospace Medicine Squadron. I have resolved to continue excellent health care service to the Wing, have our squadron set the example of living health lives and to provide care through caring for our fellow airmen. These are probably the most ambitious resolutions that I have ever made, but resolutions that I am determined to keep. My motivation resides in the knowledge that I have 130 squadron members, 2500 wing members and two million New Mexico residents counting on me doing my job.

If this seems a daunting resolution, consider our Commander-In-Chief, Barack Obama. Each hour of the day, our President has the insurmountable task of resolving to make a positive difference in the lives of more than 300 million Americans. His entire presidential campaign carried the theme of "Change we can believe in." As he approaches the end of his first year in office, consider the changes he has made on the deficit, health care reform and our involvement in the Global War on Terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan. The decisions President Obama has to make at his desk have impact worldwide. It is no wonder that his desk, made from timber from the British Naval ship the HMS Resolute, is called the Resolute Desk. Appropriately named for the firm, unyielding and determined policies that he implements to make our life better.

Resolutions do not have to be grand or earth shattering. When coming into work early, I found two of my full time staff performing difficult abdominal exercises. Each of them "resolved" to improve their own personal fitness and to set an example for the other staff to lead a more healthy life. Instead of just performing standard fitness test crunches, they challenged themselves with a more difficult exercise technique. Technical Sergeant Melissa Parker, aeromedical services technician, was determined to pass her fitness test within the first year of delivering her son. Her more strenuous training routine not only gave her a good fitness score but also allowed her to complete 48 crunches in one minute. Her determination to excel helped her "make good" by going "above and beyond".

As we enter a new decade, I offer you the opportunity to resolve to challenge yourself each day. If your goal is to be fit, run 1.75 miles instead of 1.5, or do more one or two more crunches and push-ups than the required amount the next time you work out. If your goal is to become more organized, set your deadline a week prior to the actual due date. If your goal is to lose weight, try eating a little less, or more healthy, each day. These small, daily victories will give you more confidence for the next challenge and move you closer to achieving your resolution. An "above and beyond" attitude will fuel your resolve. Use this January to make a firm, unyielding and determined commitment to improve yourself and others in a positive way. Use each day of this New Year to continually challenge yourself to strive for excellence.