WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Missouri -- A passing smile in the hallway or a grumpy mumble of “good morning” around the office coffee maker – many daily interactions during the workday are short and efficient.
“As the days grow shorter and the weather gloomier, this can affect mood and well-being. Research has shown evidence that social interactions are vital to mental and physical health,” said Linda Ambard, violence prevention integrator with the 509th Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base.
To counteract our tendency to close off from others, Ambard’s office has launched a campaign to connect with random acts of kindness – and encourages you take part today.
Random acts of kindness
The concept is simple. A selfless act performed by someone is accompanied with a certificate to inspire the recipient to pay it forward. The hope, said Ambard, is to kick off a chain of friendly assistance or kind surprises for others throughout the Wing and beyond.
The idea for the campaign is not a new one, said Ambard, but is loosely based on the 1999 novel titled “Pay it Forward” by Catherine Ryan Hyde. In the story, a social studies teacher assigns her class an assignment to devise and put into action a plan that will change the world for the better. Ambard adopted the campaign years ago when she was a teacher and she said many of her former students still carry it on to this day.
“It’s one little act at a time that can make a difference,” Ambard said. “The whole idea is that we can change the world one act of kindness at a time.”
Practicing kindness, even in the military, is about creating stronger teams and lasting connections throughout the community.
Beyond the screen
“I encourage leaders to go out to their units and introduce this campaign to their personnel,” she said. “When people see their boss take time for these little acts of kindness, the Airmen are more likely to do so as well.”
Part of starting at the top, Ambard said, is not only to encourage younger Airmen to follow suit, but for senior leaders to also think of their peers as well as their subordinates.
“We get good at hellos and goodbyes,” Ambard said. “We’re less good at forming human relationships. We get so stuck in the rat race and red tape. Over time we have fewer people around us who really know us well and notice when changes happen.”
While Facebook, email and text messages connect people, Ambard said modern communication has reduced the amount of people we meet as well as chance interactions that can create interpersonal relationships. Even when we don’t feel happy, Ambard said, looking out for others can have a positive effect.
“In our world today we are stuck behind our screens and quick to point fingers at others online,” she said. “The idea of this campaign is about doing nice things for others - even while you may be hurting. If you are looking to do kind things for others, just small things, it gets the focus off you and can help create positive moments. Kindness should be the best choice.”
Service members spend years in the military, moving from station to station, Ambard said. Airmen spend their twenties and thirties working, getting married, establishing themselves in a career and starting a family. Between work stress and family life, many cut down on time with friends or invest less time in hobbies.
“It may sound simplistic,” Ambard said. “But once you get out from behind your desk and interact with others, beyond the requirements of work, you may recognize changes in the people you work alongside. Maybe you notice somebody being just a little off and step in.”
Putting care into action
Some teams have already embraced the program and launched their campaigns via coffee-with-the-commander meetings, while directly mingling with their Airmen, or during more-traditional commander’s call updates.
“The campaign allowed us to reflect on our core values and remind everyone that even the little things we do can have big effects on others, sometimes without us ever knowing,” said Lt. Col. Anthony DeGregoria, deputy commander of the 509th Mission Support Group. “We challenged everyone to perform one RAK and then share that story within the squadron. For us it was about being kind and the positive effects we can create in others … who knows, maybe one of us turned things around for someone at Team Whiteman that week.”
Others implemented it directly - without much explanation - and let the acts speak for themselves. Senior Master Sgt. Dennis Caldwell Jr., a superintendent with the 509th BW command post, used the certificate to create a connection with his deployed team members via a care package. By sharing the certificates with deployed Airmen at a distance, Caldwell said he hopes to encourage his Airmen to focus beyond the stress of the mission – and contribute positively to their deployed teams.
“For us, it was a great way to put a different spin on something many units already do,” Caldwell said. “I knew I wanted to send care packages down range to my deployed Airmen. Once I learned about the campaign, I thought this would be great to send with the packages.”
Acts of kindness don’t have to be complicated, Caldwell added. He also left one of his teammates their favorite chocolate as a token of a job well done and left the certificate to encourage them to pass on their appreciation to others.
“The controller knew it was me who left it because we had recently discussed their love for that particular candy, but it was the smile on their face when they read the certificate that made the difference,” Caldwell said. “It’s about taking a little bit of time out of your day to focus on others and make their day just a little bit brighter.”
For Ambard, it’s about a feeling of belonging.
“If you want a culture to change and people to stay loyal, whether in the military or the civilian world, you have enable people to feel like they belong,” she said. “Feeling part of the team and mission is a big protective factor. We have to understand that people are more than their job and their uniform. They matter – toto us and their families at home.”
So, what does it take to get out of your comfort zone? Share your story or photo of your random act of kindness by tagging us on Facebook or Twitter with #randomactofkindness.
Feel disconnected? Overwhelmed? Task Force True North offers resources the challenges of military life. Call 660-687-3135.