Communities As We Know It (Blog #12)

Last week, I kept coming across the topic of communities. The question of whether communities are becoming more detached or are just in the process of changing is one of importance in our modern society. With the influence and effects of technology, many would argue that communities are becoming distant. A couple of weeks ago, I had a formal dining out. This is very similar to a military ball, and our evening consisted of cadets, their guests, family members, and a dozen cadre members including multiple Generals. For those that are unfamiliar with this type of environment, 3-star generals can be a terrifying encounter; it is a step away from meeting the President in "military language." A particular 3-star general, General Kenneth Eickmann approached my date and I and began talking to us about the Air Force community. He said that in the past the Air Force used to be a tight-knit family that truly embodied a sense of community. He mentioned that there used to be Officer clubs at every base, and every week officers would get together for drinks and a traditional game of crud. However, recently these officer clubs have been shutting down; they are empty, dark, and quiet. In his opinion, the military is becoming independent, the Airmen are solely doing their jobs and looking out for their families. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Nowadays, with the help of technology, many of the Air Force jobs require less face to face interaction. However, examples like these clearly emphasize the detachment of community in organizations. If someone were to ask whether our concept of community is changing or becoming detached, I would have to argue that it is changing in a way that is causing detachment. Our society is no longer acting like a community, and it is especially visible to those who have lived through times where community was at its strongest (i.e. WWII). Technology has had a huge part in creating our strong forces, yet there are consequences to this. Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) is an innovative and efficient operation that showcases the power of our technology through unmanned aircraft. This is also the job position that is said to have the highest suicide rates in the Air Force. There are definitely pros and cons to the concept of community, but we do know that community as we know it is changing.

Observation: I watched a puppy learn to recognize his name. Also, through the owner's interactions, I am also watching him get attached and protective of his owner.