MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. -- Happy New Year! It’s the beginning of a new year with new goals. Admittedly, 2020 was a difficult year and most of us would rather forget about it. Now that we are in a new year, let’s have a discussion about FOD (Foreign Object Debris). I know it sounds like a strange topic for the New Year but bear with me while I explain.
Many of us have participated in a carefully choreographed walk from one end of the flight line ramp to the other commonly known as “FOD Walks.” The purpose of these walks are to locate and dispose of anything that could cause damage to an aircraft engine, delaying their flight, thus negatively impacting the mission. Some of the items typically found can range from the smallest pebble to a large bag. Whether small or large, FOD can cause disruptions in the way we conduct business, thus decreasing our chances at success. It is vitally important to remove these items so that mission success is reached.
Similarly in our own lives, those issues we consider but often dismiss as small “pebbles” or large “bags” can often times slow us down and cause disruptions in our lives. I like to refer to those items as the “FOD” in our own lives. Consider this, what are some things that you have in your life that are barriers to fulfillment and success? Are they keeping you from reaching your personal goals? Are they negatively affecting your growth and development? If you answered yes to any of those questions, you may have some “FOD” in your life that needs to be discarded.
As with anything we do, we should continually be looking at ourselves and taking inventory of our lives to see what causes us to move toward a better state or what keeps us from moving to that state. Do not be afraid to discard those things that slow you down or stop you from moving forward and being the best you can be. Additionally, take the experiences and situations that you discard and use them as opportunities for self-learning and mentoring with younger troops.
In closing, take some time to evaluate your situation this New Year and make it a goal to throw away the “FOD” in your life so that you can be more resilient, productive, healthy, and happy. I look forward to serving alongside you in 2021 and becoming the best team we can become. “Readiness in Strength”