Let the AF Core Values of Integrity First, Service Before Self and Excellence In All We Do guide the way you live and perform. These values will give you what it takes to be a great warrior by intertwining the Core Values with the warrior ethos.
Success hinges on incorporating these values in all parts of your life so you know how to act in all situations.
Integrity First
It is best described as doing what is right even when no one is watching. True warriors possess honesty and trustworthiness. Warriors are rewarded by knowing they have done the right thing and stood up for something worth preserving; they DO NOT do things to receive rewards such as money, awards or recognition.
They have a sense of purpose greater than themselves—service and protection for their families, communities and freedoms. In a profession so closely tied to protecting freedoms and lives, there is no room for lack of integrity. Without integrity, you are no good as a Warrior Airman.
Service Before Self
Warriors do not focus on themselves, but on others (e.g., friends, family, brothers and sisters in arms and society). They have a willingness to put their personal interests aside for the good of their unit, service and nation.
This can mean taking on an extra shift of Entry Controller duty to cover for a sick wingman or being prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice--to risk your life in performance of your official duties.
Examples of Airmen performing Service Before Self are everywhere. Look at the official AF website at http://www.af.mil/ or read the base newspaper and you will find example after example of Airmen exemplifying this Core Value.
Airmen are serving in the Area of Responsibility in areas such as Detainee Operations, Explosive Ordinance Disposal, Convoy Operations, combat surgical hospitals treating wounded warriors, pushing available Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and command and control US, allied and coalition aircraft.
Airmen are deployed every day to distant parts of the world to defend the US and its interests. These warriors come from all career fields and hold every rank. One thing stands constant—their noble acts truly represent Service Before Self.
Excellence In All We Do
This means doing your best regardless of the duty or mission that you are assigned. Not all AF career fields have high visibility and not all missions can be glorified, but someone must step up regardless of the duty for the mission to be a success!
Warrior Airmen want to win at all costs. Failure is not an option for them. Regardless of whether they are on the battlefield or at their duty location (home or abroad), warriors will always work to their full potential.
Warriors also think proactively, not reactively. They find and fix problems before someone tells them to do so. Additionally, they make learning a life-long process by seeking to enhance their knowledge and skills everyday.
Learning does NOT end on the parade field or when you graduate from technical training; it is needed at all times as procedures, equipment, enemies and battlefields are constantly changing. Warriors must stay abreast of changes to ensure they are always well prepared.