News

Strength of a link, a defender’s way

  • Published
  • By L. Cunningham
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs

A defender, who’s 16-year career began fixated on checklists, compliance and career progression eventually discovered he was missing something. With the pressures building up at home and on the job he sought help from his command.  He was introduced to the philosophy of the link and has since become a connection focused husband and noncommissioned officer.

During an All Call when 16th Air Force Command Chief Summer Leifer asked if there was a defender in the audience who could tell her what the chain-link meant in her hand represented. Tech. Sgt. Jason Hamm, 55th Security Forces Squadron Armory NCO in charge, stood and explained the definition of the link and what it means to him.

“The chain-link, the person that you’re next to, they have strengths you don’t know about, they have weaknesses you don’t know about, but unless you are linked to them you will never know how to bring that full circle,” said Hamm. “You are only as strong and weak as the link next to you, but as long as we are connected, we’ll make a difference.” 

Leifer was so impressed by his answer that she presented Hamm with her personal coin engraved with AUDENTES FORTUNA IUVAT, which is Latin for fortune favors the bold. 

“I’m always looking for those people that demonstrate in themselves and bring out in others the bravery to speak truth to power, bold leadership and outstanding leadership, that they lead by example and they are dedicated to higher a purpose,” said Leifer to Hamm. “I can tell that is you, so thank you for what you have done, what you are doing now, and what I know you are going to do in the future, it’s a pleasure to serve with you brother.”

In 2008, after having felt the loss of his father the previous year, Hamm arrived at Lackland Air Force Base. The following year brought the loss of his spiritual grandmother and a divorce from his first wife, he said. With his marriage over, being deep in debt, deficiencies at work and all of his life’s positive influences gone, he felt lost as a person and Airman.

The multiple stressors in his life led Hamm to thoughts of suicide until 2010 when he met the woman who became his current wife. They married in 2013 and were assigned to Yakota Air Base. Turbulence within the marriage soon transpired due to conflicting cultural differences and temperaments.

For two years, Hamm struggled until the answer found him, when then-Major Michael Cheatham, developer of the link, became his commander and introduced his philosophies and expectations to his new command. Coincidentally, Cheatham later became the commander of Hamm again and the 55th SFS as a lieutenant colonel at Offutt.

Hamm found that there were weaknesses in his faith and his self-esteem as a husband and a man which were impacting him as an Airman. Remembering the link and Cheatham’s words of advice, he reached out to his first sergeant and superintendent. He discovered they were strong where he was weak.

“They explained that we will always need improvement in one way or another,” Hamm said. “The blessing is knowing that we can improve and the method is that we can all do it together.”

This explanation resonated deeply with Hamm and his convictions. So much that the ideals it represents have remained with him. Hamm discovers new things about himself day by day and is amazed by what he finds while looking within himself. He finds pain, disappointment, regret, fear, anxiety and despair, he said.

Yet when he goes beyond those negative emotions he finds love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, Hamm said. He considers these gems that redefine his life.

Hamm applied his leaders’ advice, strengthening his relationship with his wife and improving his understanding of the importance of connecting with people to serve them as their leader. 

An important part of Hamm’s link is love because of the issues he and his wife faced together while at Yakota AB.

“It is unfortunate that sometimes we really won’t know and see how much value people actually bring to our lives, our organizations, etc., until they are no longer with us,” said Hamm. “Military spouses sacrifice so much for us as we serve as Airmen throughout the world and sometimes we get lost in the job, the objectives and missions that we forget to see each other.”

Hamm bases his leadership style on L.O.V.E. which stands for Lets Observe and Value Each other. Hamm focuses on teaching subordinates to value others as human beings and to consciously connect. Life and duty call for the need to be spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically resilient to handle the demands of our lives and our duties, said Hamm.

“If we can go beyond those barriers and actually connect with another human being and transfer our strengths into areas in which they are weak, we can accomplish a whole lot more on a daily basis,” said Hamm. “It will make hardships easier to endure, so link up.”