Customs and Courtesies in an office enviroment Published Nov. 17, 2011 By Senior Airman Gino Reyes 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- -- From my experience military etiquette can sometimes be easily forgotten because of the complacency of an office environment, you sometimes need to remind yourself that you are at work and not at home. Military customs and courtesies are proven traditions that explain what should and should not be done in certain situations. These are acts of respect when dealing with other people and have evolved as a result of the need for order, mutual respect among military personnel. They play an extremely important role in building morale, esprit de corps, discipline and mission effectiveness. Customs and courtesies ensure proper respect for military members and build the foundation for self-discipline. In the work place language can be a problem I can be the first to attest to this since I have been guilty of it several times. Inappropriate language should be identified and fixed because when customers see those types of things it gives a perception of an unprofessional work environment. When it comes to customer service, professionalism is of the upmost importance. We are a transparent Air Force we like to show the world that what we do is important and that we care about our communities and customer service is just one of those ways we do that. When dealing with customs and courtesies in the workplace these are some basic rules. · Say please and thank you · Do not lean or sit on desks · Respond with yes sir or ma'am · Always stand up and respectfully greet a customer · Present proper dress and appearance · Always be professional When courtesy falters with a unit, discipline ceases to function, endangering mission accomplishment.