Finding inspiration Published Aug. 27, 2012 By Col. Barbara Jones 30th Medical Group commander VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- One of the leading reasons my family and I love to watch the Olympic Games is because the athletes inspire us. They're amazing! Competition on this world stage takes colossal sacrifice and self-discipline, not to mention thousands and thousands of hours of practice. Take for example, USA's 16-year-old Gabby Douglas, women's gymnastics all-around Olympic Gold medalist. At the tender age of 14, she left her family in Virginia Beach and moved to Iowa. There she trained six days a week, twice three of those days, for four competitive events that with times combined, lasted no more than three minutes. Gabby's Olympic journey is exceedingly inspirational. If you're reading this, chances are you're neither an Olympic-hopeful gymnast nor on an Olympic journey. More likely you're an Airman that nonetheless, could stand to be inspired every now and then. It's a well known fact that people perform at their best and realize their goals when they're inspired. As an Airman in today's Air Force how can one get Olympic-quality inspiration? Where can it be found? I have a few suggestions that hold great possibilities in satisfying your search; Attend as many Airman leadership school and noncommissioned officer academy graduations, Senior noncommissioned officer inductions and awards banquets that you can. Why? Because each has time set aside in their program for a keynote speech; delivered by someone senior in rank and position, these speeches are most often rich with inspiration. Case-in-point, Team Vandenberg's SNCO Induction Ceremony July 20 featuring the, Chief Master Sgt. Linus Jordan Jr., Air Force Space Command Command Chief. Jordan's keynote speech on purposeful and passionate leadership was so moving he received a standing ovation. His words inspired every Airman in the dining room that night, a feat easily achieved because he exudes purpose and passion as an Airman. Never underestimate how truly inspired you can get attending these events. Avail yourself whenever possible to the perspectives and presentations of senior Air Force leaders. Why? Because it's in these that our service's dominating power projection is best articulated. And, who isn't inspired by that? A few years ago I attended a national conference at which General Norton Schwartz, Air Force Chief of Staff, spoke. He talked to us, an audience of approximately 2,500, as if we were having an intimate conversation in his Pentagon office. He was cordial and candid as he addressed the many challenges and set-backs our Air Force faced. He asked us our opinions and then asked us for our help. He applauded how much we've accomplished and told us we could achieve anything we collectively set our minds to. All could see he was leading our Air Force well; he was as genuine as can be. Schwartz connected with everyone in that conference center. He certainly connected with me, and I was inspired. Now every time I see an interview of Schwartz or read his words I am again inspired. Our senior leaders hold this potential for all of us. If for nothing else, the strength and conviction with which they courageously lead is simply inspiring. Finally, always take the opportunity to see off deployers and welcome them home at the airport. Why? Because each scene will illustrate to you the awe-inspiring sacrifice and commitment Airmen and their families make in defense of our freedom. As a squadron commander, I once had to deploy an officer to Afghanistan with less than 10-days notice. This officer had just returned from there six months earlier. He took the news fairly well for a man who would now miss the birth of his first child. Though the airport departure scene was heart wrenching, his wife said to me how proud she was of her husband and how she was going to be ok. I was inspired. Four months later his wife, their infant daughter and I waited for this officer to exit the secured area. As he held his daughter in his arms for the very first time I was again, inspired. There are hundreds of stories like this one throughout our service. Deployed Airmen miss all kinds of once-in-a-lifetime events, milestones and celebrations yet they press on, giving their very best. It's the stories and sacrifices of these Airmen and families where Olympic-quality inspiration can be found.