New Kid in the Sandbox - Picture Perfect Protocol
Do you remember when you were a child and had to play with new kids in a different sandbox? This is how I felt the first time I supported a HQs US Air Force (USAF) event. The Global Air Chiefs Conference (GACC) was held on April 23-25, 1997, in conjunction with the USAF’s 50th Anniversary Celebration in Las Vegas. (Yes, it’s true, our military used to be able to host events there). It was nearly 20 years ago!
I was the new Chief of Protocol for HQs Air Force Materiel Command at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. Colonel Rick Lach, Chief of Protocol, HQ USAF, requested permission from my Commander for me to augment his protocol team. There were 21 protocol professionals, both military and civil service, planning and orchestrating multiple events. We coordinated 100 Global Air Chiefs arrivals and departures, multiple formal dinners, ceremonies, an Air Force Association (AFA) exhibition and an air show at Nellis Air Force Base. I was honored and nervous…what if I didn’t know enough to assist? What if the others didn’t like me? What if I lost all my money gambling? Wait, there would be no time for gambling…
The hand-picked team Colonel Lach selected was incredible with most of the team having much more protocol experience than I. I recall we didn’t have much time to get smart on all of the events but, I trusted Colonel Lach would coach us and he did. I was also invited to bring one employee from my office and selected Lieutenant Kathy Hartmann. She was a Dartmouth University graduate and a certified Ukrainian interpreter.
We were all given Blackberry beepers with one line of texting capability. I thought they were the coolest technology although difficult to see in the hot Nevada sun. Perhaps they helped launch the idea of Twitter?? We didn’t have cell phones but “bricks” which was like a multi-line walkie talkie. I know why they were called “bricks” – they were shaped the same and just as heavy.
The days went fast and our reliance on each other as a team grew even faster. I had never been exposed to so many internationals in one place before nor, did I have any cultural awareness training. Luckily, no international incidents occurred!
Pamela Eyring, President
