Welcome Letter

Training opens with a welcome letter from Air Force leadership. It sets the tone for everything that follows and reminds you why you're here in the first place — by joining, you've stepped into a long American tradition of service to the Constitution.

You serve the Constitution

The U.S. Air Force traces its authority back to the Constitution itself. The Preamble lays out why the Federal government exists at all — to "establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty" for the people of the United States. Article 1 gives Congress the power to raise and support armies. Article 2 makes the President the Commander in Chief.

When you take the Oath of Enlistment, you swear to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic — not a person, not a party, but the document itself. You also swear to bear true faith and allegiance to it, to obey the lawful orders of the President and the officers appointed over you, and to act according to military regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

That oath is the contract underneath everything else you'll do in uniform.

What the Air Force expects of you

Three things, in this order:

• Live the Core Values. Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence In All We Do. These aren't slogans on a wall — they're the standard you'll be measured against, every day.
• Conduct yourself so you bring credit to yourself and the country. At all times, in and out of uniform. Knowing the right thing to do is half the work. Having the courage to actually do it is the other half.
• Treat your character as the foundation. Every task you'll take on — promoting peace abroad, fighting terrorism, running humanitarian missions, taking care of your wingman and family — is a test of those Core Values. And character is what determines how you handle each test.

What's at stake

You're earning the title of Warrior Airman of Character. The expectation is that you'll be proud of how you carry yourself, every day of your service. You're starting the journey now — make the most of it.