What is your personal mission statement? Published Sept. 22, 2008 By Tech. Sgt. Ernest Owens 354th Fighter Wing command post EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- Have you ever tried traveling across the country without a road map? If not, then why travel into the future without a map? Recently during one of my business classes I came upon an interesting tool to use in life. Our assignment was to come up with a personal mission statement and then a one-year and a 10-year plan for our lives. The professor expressed his desire that we take this to heart and not just as another assignment to get through. I took his advice and approached the assignment in such a manner. What follows is what I came up with and my thought process. Mission Statement: I know the Air Force mission statement: "The mission of the United States Air Force is to fly, fight, and win ... in air, space, and cyberspace." and our 354th Fighter Wing mission statement: "Prepare U.S. and allied aviation forces for combat, to deploy Airmen in support of global operations, and to enable the staging of forces to promote U.S. interests in the Asia-Pacific region." But what could be my personal life mission statement? Here is what I came up with: "I will place family first, above all else. I will give 110 percent effort at work at all times and do what needs to be done to move up in rank and improve my work area. I will live as healthily as I can by staying active, at the same time keeping my family healthy by keeping them active as well. I will ensure to enjoy life!" Now that I put my purpose in life into a mission statement I had to plan where I wanted to go in life. Life Plan: This part of the assignment the professor stated would always be changing. As time goes by your desires in life change or you accomplish the plan you had and move on to another one. This was fun for me, I realized that I would someday retire from the Air Force and would need a plan as well for that day when it comes. Here is what I came up with for my one-year and 10-year plans: Short term (present to one year) · Complete fall semester · Study for and make master sergeant · Increase my leadership skills at work · Prepare my family for PCSes Long term (one to 10 years) · Complete Bachelor's degree · Have Senior Master Sergeant · Help children succeed in school · Retire from the Air Force · Start my own business after retirement This is an easy and quick process that can help you. Don't end up somewhere in life and ask yourself, "How did I get here?" Take the initiative and a little time to plan for your future. You will find writing these items down and reviewing them occasionally can help you stay focused and on track. Remember, whenever you do something to improve yourself, you are also improving the Air Force. Improve yourself and get where you want to be while leaving the Air Force a better place at the same time.