The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly ... in the Rearview Mirror

Quite generally, the familiar, just because it is familiar, is not cognitively understood. The commonest way in which we deceive either ourselves or others about understanding is by assuming something as familiar, and accepting it on that account; with all its pros and cons, such knowing never gets anywhere, and it knows not why.... The analysis of an idea, as it used to be carried out, was, in fact, nothing else than ridding it of the form in which it had become familiar (Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel).

Desert Living

My wife and I flew from Montgomery, AL, to Honolulu, HI, in Feb of 2022. As we watched the landscape flow from the lush greens of the Deep South into the Texas plains and then the browns and reds and whites of the New Mexico desert, we shuddered. For there, in just a few short months, was to be our next home. Later, the drive from Dallas, through Lubbock and Roswell and then into Alamogordo, NM, only heightened our sense of dread. That drive was much what we imagined driving on the moon to be like--barren, desolate, devoid of life. In fact, when I first addressed Wing leadership at the Wing Staff Meeting, I started with, "Jesus was sent to the desert for 40 days; guess it's my turn ...". I was happy about the job, but, to say the least, not too enthused about the place.

I was living under a concept of the desert and Holloman AFB that felt "familiar" to me (see Hegel's quote). Holloman has turned out to be far different from what we imagined on that flight from Alabama to Hawaii! As I reflect upon my 3+ years here, I list the pros and the cons of Holloman, and find that the pros far outweigh the cons. THIS has been a great assignment.

The Good

--slower than other bases (do NOT miss the "jumped in a whirlpool trying to catch my breath" feeling from other workplaces);

--beautiful, expansive views that are healing to the spirit;

--friends;

--a team that is highly competent makes every job better;

--slower pace of life (will miss that small-town feel ...);

--leadership (very supportive of myself and the Chapel);

--there are opportunities here that I've not found elsewhere (like an Aero Club--one of 14 in the Air Force and Nuckleweed's Place, an out-of-the-way restaurant that serves amazing food);

--finished some important things (DMIN; AWC; started blogging; etc.)

--our team developed a great spiritual fitness plan called "I.C.U." which has had an outsized impact on our people;

--great 1st Wing Chaplain assignment;

--first flight in a fighter (F-16) ... smooth as butter and quite the ride!;

--history (first nuke; first man to go 630+ mph and 40x force of gravity, space monkeys, solar observatories, etc.);

--weather (hot, dry summer; mild winters).

The Bad

--isolated (it's 1-1.5 hours for specialty medical care or a decent airport, better shopping, more than 5 restaurants, Chick-Fil-A);

--seems to be low priority with Assignments--we can't get experience on the team or a full team;

--community is off-and-on here ... one really has to work to find it;

--undermanned (see assignments above);

--I was told that making rank comes with being investigated ... seems true in my case (unsubstantiated, by the way);

--lots of newbies (first time in role or career field) which leads to more emphasis on training and education than strategy.

The Ugly

-- Has a high rate of suicidal ideations <-- that's been ugly, for sure.

Wrap-up

"Familiar" is "having a good knowledge of; common." I had a familiar idea of desert living that has turned out to be quite different than originally thought. As I look back on my time here, I'm thankful for the good things and even the experience of the bad and ugly things. I find this to be true for most assignments. For instance, when I drove through the outbound gates of a previous assignment (not Holloman), I was blaring, "Take This Job and Shove It"! I hated that place. My leaders had been ... special. I did not enjoy the overall command climate. It was the longest assignment I'd ever had. Eventually, however, I came to realize (with God's help ...) how much I learned and grew and gained from that assignment! Much of who I am today stems from that 4-year experience. Analyzing the familiar helped rid it of "the form in which it had become familiar" (for more on this, see https://kraigasmith.wixsite.com/life-giving-leadersh/post/a-monstrous-perspective).

Reflection

1. Describe an experience you had where you realized your familiar notions were wrong.

2. When has looking back helped you appreciate where you've been?

3. What experience has, in hindsight, turned out to have been most beneficial?

Pictures

After my 1st (and only) F-16 flight

Sunset at White Sands National Park

Beef Wellington at Nuckleweed's Place ... to DIE for!