From downhearted to guiding spirit

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jose L. Hernandez-Domitilo
  • 35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan --  Feeling stressed, with his face puffy and eyes red from crying, he felt his dreams had been crushed.

All he ever wanted as a kid was to follow in his father's footsteps and become a firefighter.

At only 17 years old, Daniel Robinson felt the anxiety and pressure of Air Force basic military training beginning to wane down on him when he was told he was not selected to attend firefighting school.

He initiated daily visits to his superintendent's office in hopes of a second chance at his dream, but they were only met with dismissal and disapproval.

In the midst of the daily rejections however, an administrative employee noticed the anguish in his face. She could tell it was clouding his mind, so she asked him, "Why are you always in here?"

"They told me I'm not going to be a firefighter," Robinson replied.

She summoned him into her office and they started chatting and getting to know each other for a bit. She asked for a few details, inputted the data into a computer and voila! She turned to Robinson and said, "Guess what? You're a firefighter now."

It was at that moment Robinson knew the Air Force believed in caring for their people.

Help had come from a stranger who stepped forth to assist him in a time of need and showed compassion and care. This act alone had a profound impact on his career, his life and where he stands today--a master sergeant and career assistance advisor for Misawa Air Base's Professional Development Center.

"The moral of the story is anything is possible when you forge relationships with people," said Robinson.

But it took some time after this experience for him to fully realize the importance of using relationship-building as a catapult to becoming a mentor and leader, which he strives for in his daily life as an Airman.

Despite being given a second chance at pursuing his dream in the Air Force, his initial years felt unguided. At times he felt alone, with nobody to give him advice or explain to him opportunities helpful to his career progression.

"When I got to school, I was a straight 'A' student," Robinson said. "I excelled so much that one day the fire cadre called me to his office and asked me if I would like join the Air Force Academy."

At the time Robinson had no clue what that was and all he asked was where it was located. Not impressed with its locality and with nobody to turn to for a second opinion, he did not pursue it.

"They just asked a question, but didn't provide me any information," he said. "I turned it down because I didn't know any better. I made an uninformed decision."

Oddly enough, the base where the Air Force Academy is located turned out to be his first duty station as a newly graduated firefighter said Robinson. It was there he realized another opportunity had fallen short.

While playing intramural football, his skills on the field caught the attention of then Air Force Academy football coach, Fisher DeBerry, who approached Robinson asking him if he would like to join the team.

He thought of it as an opportunity to shine and fulfill yet another dream of his--to become a professional football player. Not knowing the requirements beforehand he said "Yes," however; being a newlywed at the age of 18, he was not allowed on the team. They only accepted single Airmen.

He had known about the prospect of potentially joining the Air Force football team, but didn't know who to ask about it or what the requirements were.

His career went on, but he continued to encounter further missed opportunities and still had no mentor to guide him along the way.

It wasn't until he was almost a non-commissioned officer that he realized maybe he could become that Airman mentor for others. With head held high he set forth on a path to becoming a better leader to not only better himself, but those around him.

"I began looking at leaders who cared about people," said Robinson. "Not the ones who just wanted to demonstrate that they were leaders, but the ones who actually took the time to show me something, tell me something, or give me advice."

He took on the traits he thought were excellent qualities in leaders and discarded the bad. Traits that focused on being personable and using that characteristic to help build a foundation to motivate others.

"From then on my confidence grew a lot throughout the course of my career," said Robinson.

He began teaching his subordinates how to motivate themselves and use those feelings to influence others. By allowing individuals to define what they perceive as pride, enthusiasm and passion, they can establish boundaries to hold themselves accountable to those standards, and hopefully use that to guide others as well. "Winners breed winners," is something Robinson is convinced of and he believes attitude is key for success.

"A person's attitude can have a contagious type of effect on people," said Robinson.

He said that at the end of the day, mentorship and leadership are not were not about rank and if there is an Airman leading other Airmen, then they are a leader.

As Robinson progressed through the ranks, he worked to establish mentor sessions like the one he created at the Misawa Fire Department called "Assistant Chief Hour." A session dedicated to discussing a broad range of Air Force issues and career progression topics with Fire Department Airmen as well as hearing directly from the Airmen on their issues.

"Now I have the platform to do that for the whole wing as the career assistance advisor," said Robinson.
As the CAA at Misawa, he provides Airmen with benefits and entitlements, assistance with career opportunities and advanced leadership tools. For Robinson, it is a duty he didn't think he would be a part of.

"This opportunity found me through the Developmental Special Duty Program," said Robinson. "Somebody recognized that I could relate to people and would be good for the position."

It has become a job for him that he refers to as the "best kept secret in the Air Force."

"This is the most rewarding job," he said. "I have reached a pinnacle in my career after this--if my career ended right here I would be satisfied."

Using his philosophy of pride, enthusiasm and passion he has already helped touch the hearts of others and helped guide them through their career. One of those Airmen he has helped is Staff Sgt. Michael Denson, 35th Security Force Squadron NCO in charge of standardization & evaluation.

"He (Robinson) has given me the opportunity to hone in on my public speaking skills," said Denson. "His drive, ambition and willingness to assist others are something I believe everyone should emulate. He not only seeks the opportunities to help himself with progressing in life, he also helps others to find the keys to success."

From their first time meeting, Denson knew Robinson was someone he could see as a lifelong friend.

"He was a very approachable person," said Denson. "Being from two different career fields, birthplaces and backgrounds, it still seemed like we had much in common."

One philosophy Denson received from Robinson is to "stay fired up" regardless of the so called "funk" a wing, group, squadron or team may force upon someone.

"Never lose your way. Continue to strive and stay strong for what you want," Denson said about what Robinson told him.

Robinson is someone you can bring a problem to and expect a "straight, truthful answer without judgment," said Denson. "He is, without a doubt, the best choice for the Misawa Air Base's Professional Development Center."

Making a difference for Airmen is what Robinson strives for.

"To be able to positively influence another person and to have people who respect you from across all ranks is what it's all about," said Robinson.

If the Air Force told him the end of the road was here, he knows he would be satisfied with his accomplishments, just from hearing one person call him a mentor.

From the day in BMT when the Air Force gave him a second chance at his dream, he has had great pride for being part of the organization. While opportunities may have been missed during the early years of his career, it has paved the way for where he is today serving as a guide and mentor for others.

"I just want to be the best me that I can be," said Robinson. "Settling for mediocrity is not my style."

He knows Airmen can be whoever they want to be and the Air Force can help them get there.

"And if you want to be a leader, here's your chance, take that uniform and become a leader," Robinson said.