Making the melting pot: Senior Airman Belinda Boateng

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Austin Harvill
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  A slender wooden cane hangs loosely beside the teacher's desk. Her students, pristine and perfectly uniformed, quietly speak with friends nearby in the Ghanaian classroom. The bell rings, signaling the start of class right before a student whips through the door.

He's late.

As if spring-loaded, the teacher stands and snatches up the cane, eyes steady on the tardy student. She is quiet while walking toward him. He answers the question before one is asked.

"Palms, ma'am."

One, two, three strikes to the boy's hands before he hurriedly rushes to his seat, trying to ignore the stinging blows while scrambling for his books.

This memory played on repeat as U.S. Air Force trainee Belinda Boateng listened to her fellow Basic Military Training trainees.

"All of the girls were shocked at how scary the [military training instructors] were," said now-Senior Airman Boateng, 31st Medical Support Squadron laboratory technician, recalling the moment three years ago. "For me, that was every day of high school. If you were late, you were caned. Missed homework? You got caned. That was normal.

"At home, parents yelled, it was normal. So why did these girls never have an experience like basic [training]? It was rough, yes, but it was nothing new to me."

Coming from Ghana provided Boateng with more than just thick skin. Due to her diverse background, she encountered unique obstacles many Airmen never face. However, those challenges have also proven invaluable throughout her military career.

One of the biggest advantages of her heritage is her work ethic, said Boateng.

"[The Ghanaian] school system teaches you about life, not just academics," said Boateng. "The students contributed to the school just as much as the teachers sometimes. We would clean and work there too, and if we didn't, we would be punished. If you did the work instead of complaining, you were done and could go on with your day."

Her work ethic also stems from her experiences of being reprimanded when others didn't pull their weight, she added.

"In Ghana, I was the section leader [for cleaning details] at school," said Boateng. "When students wouldn't help, I would be punished. I don't want to be the reason someone else gets punished, so that motivates me to do my part."

As a section leader, she had to respectfully ask students to help clean, not demand it. That ever-present respect is important to her work as well.

"If everyone respects and understands the job they must do, and if we all do it together, we will leave work on time, maybe with time to spare," she explained. "If someone does not like to work, or they have no respect toward [coworkers and superiors], everything will be a struggle."

Her dedication to respecting everyone also teaches her co-workers something, said Staff Sgt. Grant Wendland, 31 MDSS laboratory technician and Boateng's supervisor.

"When it comes to business, Boateng can snap into a professional mindset no matter what," said Wendland. "She can do that because, for her, professionalism doesn't stop when the uniform comes off. I think everyone could learn a thing or two about being a 24/7 Airman from her."

According to Boateng, meeting people is a very cordial and polite affair in Ghana. She said the adjustment to the relaxed American tendency of engaging in conversation with new people leads to some awkwardness, much to her office mates' enjoyment.

"When a patient is [informal] while talking to me, my [team] says I have a surprised look on my face," said Boateng with a smile. "I know others mean well, but in that split second I am very shocked and I know my expression has changed when I see my coworkers smiling around me."

Just like the memories of her past in Ghana aided her in basic training, Boateng believes those smiles and her time in the Air Force today will also help her in the future, wherever that may be.

"I love my home; my experiences there guide me every day," said Boateng. "Now, while in the Air Force, I hope I can help everyone around me, no matter where they come from or where I go."