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SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. — For one 20th Fighter Wing airman, the
past year-and-a-half in the Air Force has instilled many important
sense-of-self lessons.
Airman 1st Class Sohail (so-HILL) A.
Sayeed (SIGH-eed), 20th Equipment Maintenance Squadron aircraft
armament crew member, uses lessons the Air Force taught him to give
back to others.
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U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Sohail (so-HAIL) A. Sayeed
(SIGH-eed), 20th Equipment Maintenance Squadron aircraft armament
crew member, tightens a bolt on a MAU-12 heavy duty ejector rack,
Dec. 17, 2013, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. Sayeed exemplifies the Air
Force core values by being a good wingman, using the Air Force to
further his educational goals, and volunteering whenever he can.
(U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jonathan Bass)
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“I found that (the Air Force) makes you a better person,”
said Sayeed, “that it's an honorable job, and that the
values and morals that they instill into people truly
benefits society as a whole.”
Sayeed originally
looked into the Air Force for the education benefits, but
after studying more about what can be accomplished for
society as an Airman, he knew he had found the right place
to be.
The Air Force core value of ‘Integrity First'
is one of the biggest motivators in Sayeed's life.
“He (Sayeed) always does everything by the book,” said
Airman 1st Class Christopher Schimke, 20th Equipment
Maintenance Squadron aircraft armament crew member. “He
always likes to make sure it's correct. He's a fantastic
Airman when it comes to detail.”
“It's (the Air
Force) made me never want to tell another lie, easy as
that,” said Sayeed. “Especially on the job, if you tell a
lie on the job and you actually mess something up, that can
cause serious backlash. But if you think about it you can
really do that if you tell a friend a lie, down the road
they could hate you forever for it.”
Schimke said
Sayeed is a fantastic example of an Airman who follows the
rules.
Beyond integrity, Sayeed follows a strict code
of “Wingmanship” that has been imprinted on the way he
lives.
“A lot of people have trouble dealing with
life in general, and with the adjustment into the Air
Force,” said Sayeed. “I found that it's easy for me to talk
to people, for people to get comfortable with me. It boils
down to the Wingman concept, it's as easy as just watching
out for them, or as tough as dealing with life problems; but
it's simply being that friend and being there for them to
lean on you.”
“He's a great friend,” said Schimke.
“My wife calls him ‘happy man'. I know in tech school he
actually helped someone who was contemplating suicide; he
took the correct actions, helped them out, and gave them
steps to brighten their future.”
While at Shepard Air
Force Base, Texas , for technical school, Sayeed realized
his ability to be a Wingman. He assisted multiple Airmen
through issues like deaths- in-the-family, marriage and
financial problems, and other tough situations.
Schimke said that around the shop Sayeed does things as
simple as just bringing a smile to people's face.
In
addition to having integrity and displaying Wingmanship,
Sayeed looks at the Air Force as a stepping stone to his
future.
“Eventually I want to get a degree in
Astronautical Engineering,” said Sayeed. “That's dealing
with space craft. That was part of the reason I joined the
Air Force, I felt like the Air Force was a natural choice.”
Sayeed said that regardless of whether or not he spends
20 years in the Air Force, or gets out soon, he'll use the
education benefits and lessons the Air Force taught him to
further his education.
“I'm looking to join the
(U.S.) Air Force Academy,” said Sayeed. “I want to be an
officer, but I want my education from that school.”
Schimke said that Sayeed is definitely a man he could take
orders from.
“He's a smart man,” said Schimke. “He
loves to lead; and he's a good leader.”
When Sayeed
isn't at work or in class, he can almost always be found
volunteering in some fashion or another.
“The Air
Force unleashed it (volunteering),” said Sayeed. “I liked
doing it, I've always liked helping people out, but I never
really sought out on my own initiative to actually do it.”
Sayeed volunteers with the Single Enlisted E4 and Below
Leadership Team, the Air Force Sergeants Association, the
Dorm Counsel, the Rising Four and several other
organizations.
His volunteering started in technical
school, where he was a student leader and had the ability to
go out and represent the Air Force with a smile and service.
“He's a people person,” said Schimke. “ He'll take time
out of his day, to brighten yours.”
“I volunteer as
much as I can,” said Sayeed. “I'd go stir-crazy sitting in
my room doing nothing.”
From integrity, Wingmanship,
and education, to volunteering, Sayeed exemplifies what it
means to be an Airman, and it's easy to see why he says the
Air Force is amazing.
“(Being in the Air Force) is
the greatest experience in my life, and the best decision
I've ever made,” said Sayeed.
By USAF Airman 1st Class Jonathan Bass
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2014
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