COMMENTARY: Next man up

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Brett Rutter
  • 95th Reconnaissance Squadron interim first sergeant
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Are you ready?

As I watched the college football and NFL playoff games, I kept hearing the phrase "next man up." The commentators were referring to the team philosophy that when a player is injured or taken out of the game the backup is going to step up and take his place. This backup was going to get the opportunity to prove their worth to the team.

My questions to you: Are you ready to be the next man up?  Have you done everything to prepare yourself for that opportunity?

Reading AFI 36-2618, The Enlisted Force Structure, you will notice a continuous theme. Airmen prepare for increased responsibilities and must ensure they are trained, qualified and ready to deploy and operate in an expeditionary environment while maintaining home station readiness.

Additionally, NCOs and Senior NCOs prepare for increased responsibilities and must ensure they are trained, qualified and ready to deploy and operate in an expeditionary environment while maintaining home station readiness. Furthermore, the Airman, NCO and Senior NCO responsibilities repeat over and over to maintain the highest level of personal readiness to meet mission requirements.

Notice something? The Enlisted Force Structure keeps repeating itself.

It is of the upmost importance to be ready when called upon. We owe it to ourselves, our families and the tax payers to do our job to the best of our abilities and be ready at all times.

We never know what tomorrow will bring; deployments, TDYs, replacing someone hurt, sick or taking emergency leave. 

No squadron or section should have one single point of failure. There should always be redundancy built in to prevent downfalls. No matter what the situation, we should all be able to work as a team and step up if someone goes down.

When my first sergeant was tasked to deploy I did not hesitate to step up and take his place. I knew I had done everything I could to prepare for the task at hand. I seized the opportunity to prove myself to the team.

I was ready when my name was called ... are you?