Propose a toast to better yourself

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Solomon Cook
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  In front of a lectern, a man stands holding his gavel, taking a deep breath and gathering his words.

In this environment he is not known by his rank, but referred to as Toastmaster. After calling the meeting to order he puts people at ease with his lightheartedness and a sense of humor about the fears of speaking publicly. He then hands the floor to the next speaker, meeting them with a firm handshake and a bow of the head.

Master Sgt. Ricardo Betancourt, 601st Air Operations Center systems tester, is the acting president of Toastmasters.

Toastmasters is an international group that teaches skills that can be taken into a multitude of arenas. The fundamentals taught are speaking publicly to get across different subjects, the skill of keeping people engaged during a speech and taking the things learned into everyday life.

"The ability to communicate is very important," said Staff Sgt. Christopher Buckman, 325th Medical Operations Squadron, physical medicine technician. "It is something no one can take away from someone, and the ability to become a better person. Being in the military, positions are predetermined, this organization gives people the opportunity to hold different positions day-to-day and the ability to jump into speaking situations individuals might not be ready for."

Being in a group encourages bettering oneself and reaching out to others, it shows that it is never too late to make permanent improvements and attempt to make those in proximity better people as well, Betancourt said.

"As a leader, you can be put into a position in an organization where you can cause immediate change," Betancourt said. "By virtue of your positional power, you can impart it to your team and they will go and execute because in the military we are taught to follow orders, but if you don't reach people at their core -- at their heart, the change will only be temporary."

The group has people of various ranks and jobs. With Toastmasters having such diversity, the stories of the personal changes range from trying to gain a new understanding and conquering the fear of speaking publicly to major life changes.

"I was on a very destructive path and I really didn't care," said Betancourt. "I was very arrogant, very egotistical, very self-centered and very selfish. For many years I wasted my life doing negative things and bringing negative results. It all comes down to the choices that you make and how they affect people around you - the people you love. It wasn't until the Lord got a hold on my heart and showed me, and then my eyes were opened."

Being the first person in his family to join the military, he is proud of his Mexican heritage. He looks to future generations, military and non-military alike, and sees the importance of mentoring them. Currently, he is on a mission of spreading the Toastmasters' message, as well as his own.

"It's not about me or about how effective I can be as a leader," said Betancourt. "I'm empowering people to bring forth ideas that they have. I don't have all the solutions and as a leader I need to inspire my Airmen to a level where they are willing to open up and share ideas."