Integrity is mission essential

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Every day at work I'm reminded of the high caliber people that we have in the Air Force. Throughout my years in service, there has been an increased expectation of technical proficiency and level of responsibility of our junior force as we downsize and promote the ranks quicker. Supervisors are encouraged to train Airmen faster and get them ready for the abundant workload that awaits. They are charged to do this while the resources continue to diminish. In my opinion, our ability to adapt in this changing environment harkens back to our Air Force core values.

The Air Force core values shapes the fabric of who we are as Airmen. These core values provide a standard for our behavior and, at times, drive us to push beyond our limits for the greater cause is our nation's defense. Integrity first, Service before self, Excellence in all we do ... these values are engrained in us from the onset of basic military training and are reinforced throughout our careers. We are charged each day to conduct ourselves in accordance with these core values with the belief that it will empower us to accomplish our mission.

Although I cherish what each core value represents, it is Integrity that I hold dear. For me, integrity is mission essential. It lays the foundation of trust and accountability in our work force. Unlike the other two core values, integrity is always tangible. For with integrity, there are no outside forces involved. It starts and ends solely with the individual. You are either a person of integrity or you are not. Most certainly, with any lapse in individual integrity, the organization becomes weaker.

Integrity is defined as being free for moral corruptness; conduct that conforms to an accepted standard of right and wrong. In more recognizable terms, "it is doing what is right when no one is looking." As an Airman, we all have a responsibility for something or someone, thus integrity has a role in every mission of the Air Force. At the end of the day, integrity is the core value that your peers and supervisors will judge you by.

Throughout my military career, I've had to address integrity issues within the ranks. It is often difficult for me to believe that there are some that have not truly embraced this core value, but then again, I also understand the imperfections of being human. We all have different upbringings, moral compasses, and have made mistakes. Owning mistakes is often difficult, but it is what is expected. However, distorting the truth, misleading, or downright lying tears at the core of who we are. As Airmen, we should be reminded from time to time of what we stand for. We hold each other accountable to integrity for what we do has high stakes and we need to be assured that others can be depended upon to do the right thing at all times.

Ultimately, integrity can only be challenged by your deeds and the spoken word. Can you be trusted? If you make a mistake, will you own it or will you try to hide it? Will you do the right things when no one is around?

Albert Einstein once said, "Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters." In the Air Force, we are charged with many "important" matters as we are entrusted for the upkeep of multi-billion dollars' worth of assets and, more so, the security of our nation. If your supervision can't trust you in the simplest of things such as; paying your debts when you have to means to do so, reporting a vehicle accident when you caused it or showing up to work in a sober condition...how can they trust you for the bigger things? The answer is; they cannot! Make no mistake, integrity matters and it affects the mission. You agreed to be held to a higher standard from the time that you entered the service. Any attempts to mislead, lie, and/or execute willful misconduct devalues your integrity and compromises the effectiveness of your unit. Embrace this core value for the mission depends upon it.