TOP CHARACTER STRENGTHS

BRAVERY - HONESTY - PERSPECTIVE

Lt. Col Allen Marshall Jr. commissioned into the Air Force from Cal State Long Beach in 1988. His first duty assignment was with the 91st Strategic Missile Command at Minot, ND, working up to Missile Combat Crew Flight Leader and earning SAC Outstanding Performer. He went through Keesler to cross train into comms and was Distinguished Graduate first in his class. He then went to Fairchild AFB, earning Company Grade Officer of the year. Heading to Scott AFB, he was deployed throughout Europe and worked with NATO while on multiple deployments. Heading back home, he was stationed at Hickam AFB, earning Lt. Col and Navy and Army ribbons for #1 AF Officer of the Year at AF PACCOM Hawaii. In 2005, he landed in Alabama as Deputy Director, Education, Logistics and Communication. He passed away in September 2009 in Alabama while on active duty and was posthumously promoted to Colonel.

Character Strength Story:

PERSPECTIVE- My uncle was always supportive, yet never minced words. I always appreciated his honesty as I was getting ready to go into the Navy. My dream was to become a SEAL and he always asked me to have another gameplan in mind, was honest about the attrition rate (which I hadn't thought about), and was always coaching me about perspective and the big picture. When I didn't make it through, he was the first to call me— not to say "I told you so" but to ask me what was next and help me look at the future as opposed to feeling sorry for myself about the past. It helped me get through a tough time and realize he was pretty much always right.

—Submitted by TJ, Surviving Nephew