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The day they were all waiting for had finally arrived. The journey they had been anxiously awaiting was about to begin, and the moment they recognized their importance to the mission would soon come around.
For many, this was the first time in a foreign country, the first time meeting people they never would have known otherwise and the first time they were put in situations that would allow for them to become better versions of themselves.
As with any new adventure, it helps when there is someone to guide and lead people on the right path, and foster the opportunities to be successful in all facets of life.
Preparing the newest generation of Airmen at RAF Mildenhall, Staff Sgt. Megan Rodgers, Team Mildenhall First Term Airmen Center NCO-in-charge, has found her passion and believes early mentorship sets up Airmen for success.
“I absolutely love getting brand new Airmen and being able to mentor them and guide them along what will be their Air Force journey,” Rodgers said. “They all come from different places, have different backgrounds, jobs; I get to teach them the importance of mentorship, guidance and understanding the importance of what the Air Force is and how important our core values are.”
Living by the Air Force’s Core Values has been something Rodgers, a former 100th Force Support Squadron NCO of the Quarter, has strived to do from the time she enlisted in 2009, but she said both good and bad experiences helped shaped her into the Airman and person she has always wanted to be.
“I wasn’t the greatest Airman at the start of my career,” Rodgers said. “The furthest thing from my mind was how important those decisions I made as a new Airman would impact my career. I did my job, but didn’t really take the time to learn how important I was to the mission.”
With the tough times behind her, Rodgers said that having her daughter truly changed her mindset of what she wanted the Air Force to do for her and her family.
“I needed to become a great role model for my child, and become great at my job so that I could utilize the benefits and my paycheck to take care of her,” Rodgers said. “In turn, I started to really care about the core values, why they are important to me, how I can stand out amongst my peers and make sure that I am living by them each day.”
Taking what she had learned through the up’s and down’s of her career and life, Rodgers said becoming an FTAC instructor has allowed for her take what she has learned and help those who are put in her charge.
“My biggest goal in the Air Force is to make a difference in people’s lives, and FTAC really gives me the platform to do that,” Rodgers said. “There’s a piece of advice I always try to pass on that I learned when I was in their position: ‘Don’t fill up someone’s cup that isn’t filling up yours.’”
“I tell Airmen all the time to surround yourself with good people, people who will help fill up your cup,” Rodgers said. “Also, take the time to do things you are passionate about because you will always put in so much more work, effort and time.”
Surrounding herself with good people and showcasing her ability to live by the core values was what made her stand out to Master Sgt. Curtis Brown, Career Assistance Advisor at RAF Mildenhall, who ultimately chose her to lead the newest generation of Team Mildenhall Airmen.
“Sergeant Rodgers has the ability to do what’s right at all times and it allows for her to teach and instill crucial values in new Airmen,” Brown said. “As a whole, she lives the core values at all times and in every facet of her job.”
Airman 1st Class Ashton Broadrick, 67th Special Operations Squadron loadmaster apprentice, agrees.
“Staff Sgt. Rodgers really did a great job in facilitating this experience for all of us and I know that I and the rest of my class feel prepared to begin our own journey,” Broadrick said.
Every Airmen who begins their Air Force career may be in a different part of their life, but becoming a part of something bigger than themselves, Rodgers said, allows for her to use her skills, experiences and knowledge to help those who will carry the torch.
“I really want to see the Air Force and the Airmen in it be the best they can possibly be,” Rodgers said. “I really want to make a difference in people’s lives and create a sense of community where every person knows that we can all make a difference.”
| Date Taken: | 09.19.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 09.19.2018 10:44 |
| Story ID: | 293497 |
| Location: | BURY ST. EDMUNDS, SUFFOLK, GB |
| Web Views: | 34 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, FTAC instructor finds passion in mentoring newest generations of Airmen, by SSgt Brandon Esau, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
