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Show 0 Hilluip Times 20 4 A;.' Commentary Moving outside "habit zone" 0 3 War patrol by Michael Gill Director, Contracing Directorate Isn't it interesting that every time you turn around, someone is telling you that you need to change you need to change what you eat, what you wear, your exercise habits and everything else you seem to do. Does that annoy you? Well it shouldn't, because whether you like it or not, change is going to happen. However, we are creatures of habit and for most of us that means we like things to be the same what we eat, drink, what we do after work. For example, when you go out to eat, do you normally order the same thing? Be honest! Just for grins, the next time you go out to dinner order something totally different or buy that Cap'n Crunch cereal (you know you want it), and see how you feel. You might feel a little uncomfortable at first and your anxiety level may even rise a little, but hey, life is short go for the gusto! Change is a funny thing. Typically when we do something new outside our "habit zone," we feel a little uncomfortable. But every once in a while we find new and exciting things and learn that it's OK to do something different. For example, when you first ate broccoli as a kid because your mother said it was good for you, did you like it? Probably not, but as you grew older your taste began to change. You discovered new foods that you couldn't believe you no one had been missing out on (except for rutabagas likes rutabagas). Now the worst part of eating broccoli is your mom saying. "I told you so." Work is the same way. For many of us, going to work and doing the same thing every day is very comfortable and enjoyable. We have our routines, our and life is good. However, the down side is that almost everything around us is changing, and by following old habits we are not always as efficient or effective as we could be. For many years now we have been thrust into an environment of rapid change with computers, cell phones, pagers, fax machines, etc. We are provided with more information than ever before and with information comes learning that leads to guess what change that can improve our quality of life and the way we do our job. There are two keys in dealing with change: Embrace it and view it as an opportunity to rewrite our lives and how we do things; and Hill - Oil) Viewpo int and you'll find things are not as v Ward Cleaver Michael Gill Attitude has everything to do with how we let change affect us. Accepting change and focusing on the positive aspects can be a positive "change" (no pun intended). Change is inevitable and it happens every day just read the In it us cases some directly and other newspaper. impacts times we are merely spectators. As Ward Cleaver once told the Beaver, "face your fears, and you'll find things are not as bad as you thought." Change is the same way; it is going to happen whether you like it or not, so you can make one of two choices hate it and be miserable or face it with a positive attitude and you may find that you actually enjoy it. Just think, without change, we would still be watching "Leave it to Beaver" on black and white television with rabbit ears and tin foil. - 1- ' - i Zack Bertrand 12 years old Youth Center member country I know that he is doing it for good cause." - Jessica Malousek 12 years old Youth Center member "Both of my parents are in the military so I get to live on base and that keeps me safe. "I think it gives me a lot of opportunities to meet new people because people on , V ' ; ...i ' ...J-- it '.1 ... ...... - w. base are friendly." , - V ' : S" Photo by Staff Sgt. Matthew Hannen Staff Sgt. Chad Reemtsma, a military working dog handler deployed from Kadena AB, Japan, to the 363rd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, praises Hero before they start a mobile security patrol. The squadron's search crews work around the clock checking people and vehicles for weapons and explosive devices at a forward-deployelocation supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Now that we've OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM (AFPN) been involved in the war on terrorism for some time through operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom, I think it's important to reflect on why we fight. I was working on this article when I received an from a very good friend of mine. He was in the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001 , when it was hit his words to me, to us, hit the mark: - .. ' by Col. Marshall Sabol 321st Air Expeditionary Wing commander "If my dad is over in another Sarah Safford 10 years old Youth Center member - - Why do we fight? - s "I get to do more stuff, like come to the Youth Center and travel to different places." f .... i d Robert McClelland 13 years old Youth Center member - 4' r . I ''. i J bad as you " thought 'What's the best part of having parents that serve in the Air Force?' TP -- y v No one can steal my stuff like my cat and dog." i i " "Face your fears, Street views v j) Annabel Cunanan 12 years old Youth Center member Ryan Mills 11 years old Youth Center member "Knowing that my dad is serving the country and keeping us safe at home." "My dad shows me around his work sometimes. He shows me the cool radar things they use to see the other airplanes." "lam sitting in the comfort of a beautiful home, safe and secure, due in large part to what you and your team are doing today. I send my heartfelt thanks to you for the sacrifice that you and your wonderful group of young people are offering up to our country. I pray daily for the safe return of all of you. I also pray for the innocents that are in the way of your difficult work. "How does a country like ours have the great fortune to have dedicated people like you and your command in our service? How can we thank you and your families enough for all that they have been asked to bear? "As you know, my service to our country was with the '3rd infantry at Arlington in the late 60s. Back then, late at night, I would see the faces of those we had put to rest and know first hand the dangers that all of our troops must be experiencing today. "At night these days I see the faces of the men in uniform who came to our rescue in the buildings on Arlington did not prepare me for the river of tears that were shed here in New York over the last 16 months. The justice that I feel that all of you are delivering today warms my troubled soul. I believe all those who were lost that day would send you their gratitude as well. "I think of how proud I was to give a few years to my country's service. I now feel the same kind of pride when I reflect upon all the people we have in uniform today in harm 's way. It gives me a great deal of comfort to know there are dedicated professionals like you and your team that this country can call upon, in our time of need. "I lost many friends on I truly believe that what you are is us doing for today making us all a lot safer. I also believe that you are making those who don 't like us more reflective of the consequence of their actions. "God bless you. God bless all in your command. God Bless America. "Survivor WTC9-11- " Let us never forget why we fight. I salute you and am proud to bo in this fight with you, and leave you with this quote, one by Abraham Lincoln: "Our reliance is in the love of liberty ... Our defense is in the preservation of the spirit which prizes liberty as the heritage of all men, in all lands, everywhere." 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