Warbirds, Rough Riders get 'fired up' by motivational speaker

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Benjamin Stratton
  • Minot Air Force Base Public Affairs
MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  A retired career officer in the Air Force came to the base theater here Dec. 17 to 19 to motivate Warbirds and Rough Riders through ethics and leadership enrichment.

"We are here to defend our country and the freedoms we cherish," said retired Lt. Col. Jeffrey Zink, 5th Mission Support Group guest speaker. "If a company selling water bottles can be so fired-up about what they are doing, why can't you be fired up about defending your country here at Minot?"

Despite the brisk wind and extreme cold, enlisted and officers alike joined ranks in the base theater eager with anticipation for their guest speaker, who they'd heard would "fire them up."

And fire them up he did. The first question posed to his audience was, "Who in here is a leader?"

Commanders, executive officers and superintendents, among others, were those who raised their hands.

Walking up to an Airman, he asked, "Are you not a leader? Everyone is a leader, regardless of what you do or what rank you bear."

"I believe there are two kinds of people in this world," Colonel Zink continued. "There are leaders and, not followers, but victims."

The victims he referred to, he said were the ones not believing themselves to be leaders. He said everyone is a leader and has the opportunity to make a difference.

Col. Zink said in order to make a difference and be a leader, "you must check if what you are doing is consistent with your core values."

"When it says, 'we want to live our core values,' that's what it means," he added.

"Is having a few beers and getting in the car with the keys consistent with integrity, service and excellence?" Col. Zink asked rhetorically.

"Is skipping steps on technical orders just to save a few extra minutes consistent with the core values?" he continued. "No."

He said there are three steps to check oneself with. First, he wants everyone to THINK about what the core values mean to them as a leader in this wing. Secondly, he would like to see each member TALK amongst one another, catch a wingman doing good and living the core values. Lastly, every Airman, regardless of rank, is encouraged to ACT and use that filter, the core values.

"Recognize what you do up here and how important it is to the mission of the Air Force," Col. Zink said.

He concluded with a story:

A man was walking along the beach, littered with hundreds of shored starfish, when he saw a little boy picking them up, examining them and throwing them back to the sea. Enraged, believing the little boy was wasting his time, he you asked him, "You realize you aren't making a difference?"

The little boy replied, "I did for that one."

Col. Zink said no matter what your job is, no matter what squadron you work in or how important you think you are, he said he wants ever member of Minot AFB to remember they are a leader in today's Air Force. They can make a difference by living the core values:

INTEGRITY FIRST -- SERVICE BEFORE SELF -- EXCELLENCE IN ALL WE DO

Col. Zink retired after more than 20 years of service to the Air Force. He began his career with more than 2,000 flying hours as a navigator and bombardier on the B-52H Stratofortress here during the height of the Cold War.

Colonel Zink's visit to Minot was a 5th MSG and 91st Operations Group initiative for selected individuals from each squadron in the groups. The funds were raised by coordinating the request through Gen. John D.W. Corley, Air Combat Command commander.