CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
As the most powerful Air Force in the world, we are blessed to have the best and brightest America has to offer. We fly, fight and win because our people possess an unmatched level of technical expertise and achieve a level of performance that is second to none. These are high standards, but members of Team Charleston take it even further. In the busiest wing in the Air Force, the Airmen of Team Charleston have made success a habit. From the Verne Orr Award to an operational readiness inspection "excellent" rating, winning is not something we strive to do, it's just second nature.
Since many of our Airmen are so focused on doing the job, I believe our Airman ethos has gone by the wayside. For example, if you ask any Marine what their job is, a Marine would reply, "I'm a Marine sergeant." If you ask someone in the Army what their job is, a Soldier would reply, "I'm a Soldier sergeant." And then they will go on to tell you about their specialty.
Now, if you ask an Airman what their job is, they would reply, "I'm a vehicle mechanic, dental technician or security forces member, sir." At no time will that Airman stand up and say, "I'm an Airman." As Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz and Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Rodney McKinley have said many times, we need to get back to the basics.
As Airmen, we are the elite and should strive to present the best possible image and be proud of who we are. I recently had a discussion with a friend of mine who is an Air Force recruiter. He said that sometimes his job is very difficult because the Air Force is very selective, more selective, in fact, than any of the other uniformed service. So what does it mean to be an Airman? Let's refer to the Airman's Creed.
Wingman - to be a good Airman we must be a good wingman. We must be there to take care of each other. Watching out for each other is what keeps us and our nation safe.
Leader- in the Air Force we breed the best leaders in society. This is true because of the courage, loyalty, trust, professionalism and dedication to duty that all members, from the chief of staff to the newest airman basic, exemplify in their daily lives.
Warrior- in today's expeditionary environment we are expected to be able and willing to deploy at a moment's notice to support the combatant commander to the best of our abilities. There was once the attitude that the Air Force's only fighting force was aviation driven, but I can tell you that is far from the truth. As a former security forces member, I worked hand-in-hand with the Army, and every time they needed something done right the first time, they called on the Air Force to take care of it.
As Airmen, we need to be proud to wear our uniform, to follow all individuals appointed above us and to adhere to all regulations we are instructed to enforce. I know this is a powerful statement, but let's get real. We are in the business of being wingmen, leaders and warriors, but most importantly ... we are all Airmen.