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By Tech. Sgt. Jazmin Smith / Published February 01, 2023
U.S. Space Force Tech. Sgt. Britney Pociatek, third from left, Space Delta 7 OL-B NCO in charge of the commander’s support staff, gathers for a family photo with her three children, two sisters and parents during Thanksgiving in Houston, Texas, Nov. 24, 2022. Now that Pociatek has a family of her own, she continues the tradition of gathering with loved ones during the holidays which she said helps her to remain resilient. She added her mother is her biggest inspiration and gave 20 years to the U.S. Army without compromising the love and care she gave to her children. (Courtesy photo)
U.S. Space Force Tech. Sgt. Britney Pociatek, Space Delta 7 NCO OL-B in charge of the commander’s support staff, poses for a photo at Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado, Jan. 31, 2023. Pociatek shared her thoughts on how ethnicity and heritage affect her identity as a wife, mother, former Sailor and now Guardian. (U.S. Space Force photo by Dennis Rogers)
In honor of Black History Month, we would like to recognize U.S. Space Force Tech. Sgt. Britney Pociatek, Space Delta 7 OL-B NCO in charge of the commander’s support staff, and share her thoughts on how ethnicity and heritage affect her identity as a wife, mother, former Sailor and now Guardian.
“My ethnicity as an African American has shown me to find the absolute beauty in differences and things we may not understand,” said Pociatek. “My heritage is tied to values that I was taught, such as empathy for others no matter who they are, love for community, a strong work ethic and religious devotion. All these things have made me the person who strives to be better and uplift and mentor those around me.
“I’m proud of being black, and I’m proud of my continued effort to ACHIEVE and PERSEVERE despite discrimination, failure, and opposition,” added Pociatek. “We must remain strong through adversity and enable ourselves to adapt to change.”
African Americans have richly impacted the American culture by bringing delicious food, inspiring music, and lots of flavor, said Pociatek. It is diverse and has evolved from a history intertwined with slavery, oppression and discrimination, but also from milestones in science, art, civil rights, breaking barriers and more.
As a member of DEL 7, Pociatek enjoys interacting with Guardians each day and providing the fundamental foundation of resilience, mentorship, career guidance and squadron Indoctrination, which are the cornerstone for communication. A fond memory she recalled was over the holidays when her command team took time to write each of their staff members a card expressing their gratitude and reiterating the impact everyone has on the Delta. Having that sense of community and support is a huge motivator for her. As an NCO shaping the next generation of Guardians, Pociatek shared a quote she found inspirational which shapes her leadership philosophy:
“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or if we wait for some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek,” remarked Barack Obama, first Black president of the United States.
To see events and photos celebrating Black History Month, please check out the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility - SBD 1 Facebook page.