A top-10 list you didn't expect

7/12/2002 - BOLLING AIR FORCE BASE, D.C. (AFPN) -- How many speeches have you heard over the course of your career at professional military education graduations where you actually remember the words uttered by the guest speaker? I try to pay attention to each and every speaker and take to heart the message they are conveying. I am almost embarrassed to admit that after the dessert dishes are cleared away and the awards presented to the exemplary graduates, those important messages are often already starting to fade in my memory.

I don't believe that I am disregarding the importance of the speaker's words of wisdom. However, I think it takes a simple and "down-home" message for it to remain vividly on my mind and keep my thought process focused.

Recently, at a noncommissioned officer academy graduation ceremony, the guest speaker made reference to a speech that he had heard earlier in the month. Chief Master Sgt. Daniel Keane, Air Combat Command's command chief master sergeant, said something to the effect of the importance of knowing the 10 most important words to know to be successful in the Air Force. As I was sitting in my chair, I was expecting something profound to be listed. I was anticipating eloquent verbiage that would most likely require me to get out a dictionary. I was pleasantly surprised with his rendition of the 10 words. After he recited the list, I truly believed that he was absolutely right and I felt the exact same way without really realizing it.

He said the most important words for a military member to use to be successful are: "Yes sir," "No sir," "Yes ma'am," "No ma'am," "Please" and "Thank you."

Those are 10 words that each and every one of us probably learned to spell before we entered second grade. Most likely, our parents stressed the importance of being respectful to our elders and being well-mannered children. Growing up, I know that those 10 words were part of my everyday life and I was expected to use them. In my youth, I would have never considered what I was taught about good manners would be a tool to be successful in life. Now, since the guest speaker has reintroduced to me these words, I am fully aware of the power they contain.

"Yes sir," "No sir," "Yes ma'am" and "No ma'am" are simple phrases that are not just reserved for those who outrank you. They are words used to be respectful. To me, there is nothing more annoying than when you're watching those old-time military movies and the young "butter-bar" calls the crusty old senior enlisted guy "sir" and the enlisted leader says, "Don't call me sir, I work for a living."

I don't believe that an individual's rank has anything to do with the amount of respect that should be given. I will be just as respectful to one of my airman as I would be to the chief of staff. There is nothing wrong with a field grade officer saying "Yes sir" to an airman. It shows a level of respect for the individual as an individual, regardless of a lesser rank. We should all be respectful of each other if we want to be successful.

"Please" and "Thank you" pack power too. When you ask one of your troops to accomplish a task, how hard is it to say "Please" or "Thank you"? It doesn't take much more than half a second to utter and if you make it routine, it will flow in your vocabulary. Just because you asked politely for a task to be done, the order doesn't become less substantial.

My parents stressed respect in our daily lives and didn't hesitate to remind my brothers and me if we failed to be courteous. "Please" and "Thank you" make the positive first impression. "Please" and "Thank you" impresses your chain of command. "Please" and "Thank you" are merely three syllables in the English language, yet they have an enormous impact when they are used.

I always listen quietly to distinguished speakers at events, hoping to better myself by taking in the messages they portray. I've found that you never know which speaker will impact you greatly -- the one who leaves a lasting impression and you feel the need to share it with others. Chief Master Sgt. Keane provided me the insight to realize the importance of simple words taught to me in my youth. Those 10 words are the most important in my vocabulary and by using them regularly, I do believe that I will be a successful Air Force member.