Altus Air Force Base, Okla. -- Get to know the Airman of the Month for July, Staff Sgt. Joshua Gamble, 56th Air Refueling Squadron instructor boom operator from Altus Air Force Base.
Beyond your technical expertise, what personal quality or strength do you believe contributes most to your effectiveness and reliability in your unit?
I believe communication is the strength that contributes most, whether it be on the aircraft or in the unit communicating with leadership and younger Airmen. Learning from other Airmen each day and communicating with them is critical to growing not only as an Airman myself but for everyone within our unit and wing.
How do you stay ahead of the curve and ensure you're always prepared to excel, regardless of the challenges that may arise?
Not only is it a core value of excellence in all we do but an internal motivation of mine to be the best I can be keeps me ahead of the curve for what challenges arise. Staying humble and learning from peers and leaders that have had experiences in difficult situations help Airmen thrive in challenging times.
What specific steps do you take in your role to ensure you, and your team are always prepared to execute the mission, even on short notice?
I make sure to communicate with my team with long and short term taskings, mission preparation and readiness. We must be adaptable to overcome adversity within the military and world, while ensuring we are always set up for success may be difficult, preparedness keeps us sharp and able to handle that adversity.
How does your work at Altus directly or indirectly contribute to maintaining the Air Force's lethality on the global stage?
Instructing the new Boom Operators on aircraft procedures and giving them the foundation to build upon to complete worldwide missions keeps the Air Force Lethal. We teach the fundamentals of Air Refueling and grow their knowledge and skills from day one in the unit while also mentoring them beginning their military career.
What piece of advice would you give to a fellow Airman who is striving to embody the same level of excellence and dedication that earned you this recognition?
The piece of advice I would give is; do the best you can do, find joy in the task you are accomplishing and strive for excellence. If you have the intrinsic motivation and dedication to perform your best, then the results will follow. The last piece would be not letting the negative creep in and stay positive because at the end of the day you are less than 1% and have the privilege of serving your country.