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NEWS | Dec. 7, 2010

‘Ate Up’

By Lt. Col. Trevor Whitehill 628th Comptroller Squadron commander

How often have you heard of the term "Ate up" to describe an individual who is a little involved with the military way of life. You may have even used it yourself from time to time and quite often this term has been connected to a negative connotation. But is it? Is being "Ate up" a bad thing?

We are part of a profession in which only 9 percent of Americans have raised their hands ... the Profession of Arms. We wrote a blank check payable to the United States of America for an amount up to, and including our lives. Within this profession, we are part of a society that has demonstrated time and time again Airpower is the key to winning wars ... our society is the United States Air Force.

Being a professional Airman demands more of us than our civilian counterparts. Even our Air Force Core Values requires us to go above and beyond ... integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do. This should not be a punch line but a way of life.

Some of the old hats may remember a little blue book back in the days called the United States Air Force Core Values. Although this book may no longer be in existent, I want to highlight the four reasons for these Core Values. First, the Core Values tell us the price of admission to the Air Force and whether officer, enlisted, civil servant, or contractor, we must display honesty courage, responsibility, openness, self-respect, and humility in the face of the mission.

Second, they point to what is universal and unchanging in the profession of arms. Some people are bothered by the fact the Air Force once recognized six values and has now reduced them to three. The important thing is not the three road signs our leaders choose. The important thing is they have selected road signs, and it is our obligation to understand the ethical demands these road signs pick out.

Third, they help us get a fix on the ethical climate of the organization. How successful are we in trying to live by the Core Values? And finally, they also serve as beacons vectoring us back to the path of professional conduct; the Core Values allow us to transform a climate of corrosion into a climate of ethical commitment.

The Air Force is in a constant change but it is us, "the members of this society," that is the common denominator in this equation. We must live and uphold these Core Values or our ways of life will corrode. Don't be afraid to confront individuals who are not living up to our Core Values. And we shouldn't frown upon individuals who make corrections on uniform, customer service, or just basic professional image. It is our responsibility to each other, our appointed leaders and to our nation.

Being a member in the best Air Force in the world, we should be "ate up." So the next time you are confronted with the question "why are you so ate up?" Your response should be "why aren't you!"