An Airman by any other name

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LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (ACCNS) --   Public Affairs, Erin Zagursky, is my standard, phone-answering line, but the reply I get is never standard.

Many people call me maam and some call me Ms. Zagursky (or some other creative variance of my last name).

However, people most often respond to my telephone greeting by saying, Hi, Airman Zagursky.

The first few times this happened, I was quick to correct the callers, realizing its easy to mistake my first name for Airman.

Eventually, I stopped correcting callers, because hearing what people would say after they called me Airman gave me a unique insight on what it must feel like to have a few stripes on my shoulders.

Most callers treat me with the same respect as they would if they knew I was actually a civilian. They are polite and patient, kind and respectful.

Other callers treat me better than I would be treated if they knew I was a civilian. As an airman, Im part of the club. A sister in arms. A fellow bluesuiter.

But then there are those callers who treat me, sadly, in the same way I imagine they treat all Airmen.

They talk slowly and with very small words to make sure I understand exactly what they say. They make me repeat messages to them to ensure I didnt mess anything up. Or, they immediately dismiss any help I may offer and ask for someone who knows whats going on.

Just recently, one caller slowly and clearly gave me examples of aircraft that the Air Force has just in case I wasnt aware of what service I was in.

I am always amazed by these people. The Airmen that I work with are amazing professionals. One of them won Air Combat Commands new writer of the year, and the other taught me almost everything I need to know about media operations at the wing.

And I know my situation isnt unique. There are outstanding airmen all over the base, and all over our Air Force.

To assume an Airman is young or uneducated is absurd. Not only do they perform incredibly complex, life-or-death jobs every day, many of them are working toward degrees, if they have not already received them.

Additionally, many of them are mothers or fathers, wives and husbands all working hard to balance school, their career and a family.

Every chief -- and even some colonels -- started off as an airman. Some of the best officers I know started off as airmen. They now use their one- or two-stripe experience to make them better leaders and mentors to the Airmen under their command.

Now when people mistake my first name for Airman, I dont usually correct them, not only because I like to hear what they say next, but also because Im proud to be associated with these outstanding professionals.