COMMENTARY: How to enjoy an Air Force career Published June 5, 2010 By Col. Charles Mood Commander, 419th Mission Support Group HILL AIR FORCE BASE, UTAH -- I've been in the Air Force more years than I'd like to admit, but I believe those years give me the authority as "the wise old Turk" to pass down an observation about enjoying an Air Force career. Attitude is everything! I have to admit that my best years in the Air Force actually started with the conscious decision to make the next few years in my career my "golden years" - the years that stood out and the ones I could look back on with pride and satisfaction. That decision affected everything. My expectations were higher. I planned better and had a mental vision of what I wanted to accomplish and achieve. I pushed my Airmen harder and expected more from them. It also opened up more opportunities for them. My squadron ended up winning every award available to a logistics readiness squadron at the Air Force Reserve Command level, and we produced individual award winners at the Air Force level three years in a row. What changed? My attitude. I had no more people or resources than before to achieve these results. But I refused to go just through the motions on UTAs, TDYs and annual tours. Even better, my enthusiasm passed on to others in my squadron. The transformation was like standing in a dark room with only one candle. One candle lit another, then another, and soon there is no more darkness. Yes, attitude is everything. Try it sometime. Make the conscious decision now that the next few years will be your "golden years" in the Air Force. Put yourself in the driver's seat. Nobody can take better care of enjoying your Air Force career than you!