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Right thing, right reason, right time

  • Published
  • By Maj. Benji B. Jackson
  • 375th Force Support Squadron commander
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  Being an Airman can be easy. With the core values we all know and live by--Service Before Self, Excellence in All We Do, and Integrity First--decisions should come easily. With this foundation, I believe in three simple rules to guide us in every decision we make. These rules are: Do the right thing, Do it for the right reason, and Do it at the right time. This applies to both on- and off-duty decisions.

"Do the right thing"
Most of us have been taught this from an early age, but we may not have been taught to do the right thing while also keeping the larger picture in mind. When providing a service, do you weigh what is in your best interests, the customer's best interests, the section's, the flight's, the squadron's and so on? The manner in which you choose to provide customer service is dependent upon those factors. Following prescribed guidance is always safe, but is it always the right thing? If not, then you have to look at why the policy is in place, and from there you are led to consider the next rule.

"For the right reason"
In your life, when faced with a choice, you must determine the reason for your decision. Is the decision for me, my family, the unit? For instance, having your personal interests in mind is not a bad thing when choosing a candy bar, but when it means cutting corners or buying an item for your section that's merely "nice to have," then that's altogether different. By cutting corners, did you set someone else up for failure? Maybe another section has an unfunded requirement for which the money could be used. At this time, it's important to remember that if the policy that drives your reasons for doing something is no longer appropriate, you need to up-channel to your superiors as it may be time for change.

"At the right time"
This rule can be as much or even more important than the first two. You can do the right thing for the right reason, but if it is too late or too early then it becomes irrelevant. The customer with whom you were working may have already become frustrated and may not return or may choose to complain because of your lack of timeliness. Conversely, if you respond too quickly, you might have solved one issue but created more issues down the line, which takes us back to looking at the bigger picture.

It has been my experience that if you do the right thing for the right reason, and have completed it at the right time, your supervisors will support you. Be a decision-maker. Experience will fine tune your decision-making process, and by using the Air Force core values as a guide for the three "rights" when faced with a decision, things will work out in the end.