It's not just a job, it's my profession

Published May 13, 2011
By Senior Master Sgt. Joseph Robinson
2nd Contracting Squadron

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- There was a time not too long ago when one would actually be informed of the current state of affairs in a manuscript called the newspaper.

As an 11-year-old it was my responsibility to ensure all my neighbors would have their newspaper before they had their first cup of coffee. At 11, having a job meant I was responsible and reliable, but never wanted to be considered a professional newspaper delivery service provider. Being considered a professional or having a profession was deemed to be a prestigious title that only doctors, lawyers or a New York Yankee were deemed worthy enough to have.

I was content with having a job when I enlisted but soon realized that I joined a unique profession.

The word "job" is defined in the Webster dictionary as "an activity done regularly for payment." One may argue that as a service member we do get paid regularly for the activity that we do, but we do more than just an "activity" and the payment for such tasks is not one that would make Bill Gates envious.

Being entrusted to defend our great nation should not be considered as an activity that is taken lightly. Besides firemen and policemen who put their lives at risk to aid and protect Americans daily, no other profession is entrusted with such a "job." Even the aforementioned "finest and bravest" are solely entrusted with the security and well being of constituents within their respective municipality, while all service members are responsible for ensuring the well being of every American, from Alaska to Florida and every state in between.

I have long considered myself to be a "professional" service member. I argue that one does not have to be a 20 or 30 year "lifer" to be considered a professional service member. I define a professional service member as one who truly exemplifies the Air Force core values of integrity first, service before self and excellence in all we do.

Throughout the numerous professional military education courses and countless NCO Academy and Airman Leadership School guest speaker speeches I have endured on the topic, I've come to the conclusion that the core values can simply be defined into one sentence: Do the right thing and the right job for your fellow American.

There are numerous reasons one may join the armed forces, ranging from college tuition need, skill search and patriotism to boredom. Those same service members who were looking for a way to pay for higher education or wanting to learn a trade all respond the same way in one form or the other when they are asked, "What do you do for a living?" They respond with, "I'm in the Air Force." When a doctor is asked the same question, he doesn't respond by saying, "I'm in the medical field." Nor does a lawyer respond with, "I'm in the legal system." They clearly state their profession as we do.

Stating that you are in the Air Force comes with the understanding that it is clearly your profession. You can be a crew chief, paralegal, supply specialist or lab technician and it doesn't matter to the average American. The only thing the average American knows is that you are in the Air Force, which means you are a skilled, responsible and reliable defender of our nation's interest and security.

My neighbors back home are still safely drinking their morning cup of coffee, and instead of their newspapers nowadays they are on the internet reading the news due in part to the professional servicemen and servicewomen of the armed forces.

In 1961, the U.S. Navy came out with the recruitment slogan, "It's not just a job, it's an adventure." I serve with a revised version of the Navy slogan with, "It's not just a job, it's my profession."