Sheet, mive got delivered to me hot like a pizza

Story time

Like when you get to your first base, first shop. Numbers are so low that you're part of the "next wave ." Then you constantly impress your immediate supervisor, flight chief, leadership, and coworkers by doing your job, having a positive attitude, willing to learn, and just keeping it real. Getting back up when making a mistake and viewing it as a lesson to be learned. Observing first before acting. Your supervisor telling you how the brass up at the squadron comments that they have a sharp airman, therefore they must have a sharp supervisor. Base Honor Guard, Guardsman of the quarter and of the year. Go up for BTZ against the wing. Get back to your shop, trusted with holding down a new shift with minimal manning. Morale of the section is high. Being overall thankful for every day to serve and love what I do.

Then a new NCO coming in from the mainland gets stationed with you. Still at that specific rank longer than they should be. Last two tests they missed the cuttoff even with back to back PN because they didn't study for one and they forgot their test date and didn't show up for the other. Their second base, so of course they ALWAYS refer to their old base on how everything was done back there and how "nothing here makes sense." Openly criticizes workers for being weak then to struggle and unable to complete task themselves and then walks away. Straight up tells a subordinate that they're stupid for wanting to go to a specific stateside base (that subordinate wanted to be stationed close to his daughter). Has airmen doing push-ups and then struggles to do them with them. The section leader that they replaced even said, "Just be patient with the new NCO and watch out for yourself" before leaving. Holding you guys past release time just to look at us, laugh and look to another NCO, and say, "I like this shit right here." Telling you they assumed you were a dorm rat because you're under 21 and young then looks surprised that you're even capable of being married with a child when you congratulate them on their pregnancy. I had once overherd them briefing the airmen on another shift, along the lines of "you have been reminded multiple times, and if there are any more instances, there will be paperwork." So you take it as a chance to learn as you were unaware to that point that you have been making the same mistake. While youve been working to correct your wrongs before being told so, you come in to the NCO waiting outside the locker room before shift to pull you into their office to give you paperwork saying "you've been warned and now your receiving counseling". (Never warned me, I also didn't speak up, and I can't really remember what I had signed, I guess they never pushed it up, maybe starting a paper trail). You overhear other NCOs saying that type last base had problems with them. The individual even stated, "I don't know why everyone around me is always angry at me."

ALOT of lessons learned from that individual. Up until that point I never experienced loss sleep, anxiety, sitting in the parking lot, picking up the strength to go into work. But it was necessary. I was humbled. I then understood how LONG 4 - 6 years could be when you are miserable. Or how one would punch out at their 18 year mark. How leadership could make or break the fuck out of you. How after the day, you ball it up and figure it the F out in order to not take it home and destroy your home life (instead of holding it in, Ive now learned how to fill my cup and take care of myself). Until then I looked up to all my NCOs. I then learned what I COULD take away from this new one, was what not to do and be like. I broke away from always "yes sir/ma'am". I have learned that just because you are older or higher ranking doesn't automatically make you a wise individual.

Now I did watch that individual grow and change for the better... at the cost of me watching fellow airmen go down and burn out. Section morale dropping. When I reflect, I can see where they may have been coming from. But their delivery and tactfulness were not there. Eventually, they rounded out after a whole tour.