MEDIA CONTEST: Facts and opinions: Thoughts from an idealistic lieutenant Published Dec. 28, 2006 Commentary Entry 9 ACC MEDIA CONTEST -- It is the opinion of some that second lieutenants should be handed a box of crayons with their gold bars so they can sit in the corner and color while they learn how to be in the "real" Air Force. I brought a set with me and I promise to return to my coloring book just as soon as I provide a few points of discourse from an idealistic lieutenant. In an era of fiscal responsibility and shrinking personnel allocations, it is easy to lose sight of what the military does, its importance, and the sacrifices all of us make on a daily basis. The uniform can become your "work clothes" and your Air Force Specialty Code can become your "job." However, the fact of the matter is that service in any branch of the military is not common and I discovered just how rare it really is when the major selects listing was published by Air Force Personnel Center a month or two ago. One of the people on that list is the reason I am in the Air Force and a true inspiration in my life on multiple levels. Plainly put, I would be doing something else if I had not received her guidance. Naturally, I called to congratulate the major select when I saw her name on the listing and it was during that conversation when I learned the promotion rate for the board was approximately 95 percent. While the statistic itself didn't bother me, some of the comments that I have heard from others as a result of that statistic did. I heard one individual say, "What do you have to do to not get promoted?" while another commented, "Sounds like O-4 is almost automatic these days." This forced me to do a little research and I offer to all of you two facts and some simple arithmetic. Fact number one: on Sept. 30, 2005, during the U. S. Armed Forces Farewell Tribute and Armed Forces Hail Ceremony for General Richard Myers, General Peter Pace extemporaneously remarked, "We have a lot of work to do. This moment in history is one where we have an enemy whose stated public intent is to destroy our way of life. Two-point-four million American men and women in uniform say, 'Not on our watch'." When I took a look into military end strength I found out that these two-point-four-million people are those that wear the uniform: active, guard and reserve. Fact number two: according to the U.S. Census Bureau website, the estimated population of The United States was 298,367,305 at the time when I wrote this article. Using some division one can paint a picture on just how rare military service is ... you are correct, less then one percent of the population serves in the military at any one time; service is indeed rare. My point is this; it doesn't matter if you are an Airman first class earning that third stripe to become a senior Airman or a captain grabbing that golden oak leaf, what we do is rare, important and carries with it inherent nobility. The defense of a grateful nation is charged to the privileged few who meet the opportunity with an immense passion for their craft and an AFPC statistic can not taint that. So the next time someone you know "makes the grade" don't ask what the promotion rate was and refer to it as almost automatic, rather, extend your hand in an honest handshake and simply say, "Congratulations." Take this for what it is worth; some thoughts from an idealistic lieutenant. Now, has anyone seen my coloring book around here?