JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. -- There are certain things in life you just don't do. You don't tug on Superman's cape, you don't spit into the wind, you don't pull the mask off that ol' Lone Ranger, and you don't mess around with - core values. At least not if you have committed part of your life to serving this great country in the Air Force Reserve.
Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence in All We Do are the pillars upon which we rely to reach the ultimate goal - mission accomplishment.
Regardless of what mission you support, you must do so in a fashion that supports the Air Force's core values. The Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James, and Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Mark Welsh, recently sent out a memo that included the following:
"When Airmen fail to live up to our core values, the reputation of all who serve is tarnished. We must have the strength of character to do and say the right things at the right times, always with diplomacy, tact and respect. Being a wingman does not mean protecting those who lack integrity or fail to uphold the core values; it means not tolerating them. Don't confuse loyalty with standards. You are accountable not only for your actions, but for also for failing to take action if you see bad behavior."
Let's be honest, sometimes serving this great nation, our nations citizens, and the Air Force Reserve means you have to work a little bit harder to earn the respect each and every one of you deserve. We are a professional, highly-skilled group of Airmen and by living the Air Force Core Values, we protect and project that reputation. We've all graduated high school and college, so we've left the youthful rites of passage behind us.
As I join the secretary and chief in their call to reaffirm our commitment to our Air Force Core Values, I invited every member of the 446th Airlift Wing to do so as well. And yes, I know that song is now stuck in your head.
Thank you for all you do!