How Airmen view service impacts their career

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Kevin Murray
  • 2nd Fighter Squadron commander
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFPN) --  Each of us, at one time or another, has had someone ask us why we joined the Air Force, or why we continue to serve. There are a lot of different answers to this question, and probably no wrong answers. Each of us has our own reasons.

I think it's important that each of us spend some time thinking about those reasons so we can easily articulate them the next time we are asked the question, "Why do you serve?" 

A well thought-out explanation of the reasons why you joined the Air Force, and more importantly, why you continue to serve, may provide motivation to that person to also find his or her own reasons to serve. More importantly, if you truly understand the reasons why you serve, it will help you to serve better.

How do you view serving your country -- fighting in combat or combat support? Are you training others to fight? 

There are many reasons why people join the military. Some may have joined out of a sense of patriotism, a feeling that it is their duty to serve their country by joining the military and being prepared to defend the country and its principles. This patriotic feeling and desire to help one's country was very evident after the 9/11 terrorist attacks with a large wave of people joining the military. That spirit continues today with the ongoing war on terrorism.

Maybe others joined the Air Force to take advantage of the great education opportunities the military offers, both in technical training and undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Perhaps there was a desire to travel to new places, and do something new and exciting. It's even possible that some joined because they had nothing else to do, had no real direction in life, or joining the military seemed like a good way to find a focus in life. 

It could have been any one of these, or several other reasons, that led you to join the Air Force.

I joined the Air Force in 1987. My prime reason for joining was because I wanted to fly. Although I believed strongly in the principles our country was founded upon, I didn't think about joining the Air Force from a patriotic perspective. While I felt it was important to serve my country, flying was still the main reason I joined. I have been very fortunate that my 19-year Air Force career provided the training and the opportunity to do something I enjoy very much.

But if you asked me today why I continue to serve in the Air Force, the answer is not because I get to fly. My reasons have evolved over the years, as I suspect most people's have. Having the opportunity to fly was the trigger that got me into the Air Force, but along the way, I discovered several other things I can do to serve my country. 

First, I continue to serve because I do want to defend my country and the ideas upon which it was founded. The freedom we enjoy cannot be taken for granted and it must be earned every day.

My squadron is a training unit, not a combat unit, so I won't get to serve by flying in combat. My mission here is to produce near-combat-ready F-15 Eagle pilots for the combat air forces, so I serve my country by providing highly trained individuals who will deploy to combat.

I also continue to serve because I enjoy the challenging environment of the Air Force. I enjoy tackling a problem or obstacle, identifying a solution to the problem, and then executing the course of action to accomplish the mission.

I've found that service is much more than just doing my job as an F-15 instructor pilot.  I also serve by providing the Airmen under my command the opportunity and the motivation to reach their full potential. I do this by setting a good leadership example, and then providing them the opportunity and the responsibility to be a leader themselves.

I also mentor them. I encourage them to pursue educational opportunities, both professional and academic. I counsel them when they have problems, and I praise them when they do well. I help instill the values of integrity, service and excellence. I encourage them to get involved in their community, to volunteer and to be a good ambassador for the Air Force and the U.S.

If I can motivate Airmen to become leaders, to better themselves through education and to demonstrate our service's core values, then I have done something to serve my country. If I can help Airmen who are going down the wrong path turn themselves around, become productive in their jobs, and be responsible people with good character in the Air Force and in their community, then I have served my country. And when those Airmen mentor and motivate others to reach their potential, then I have served my country.

I owe the Air Force a lot. It has given me great technical training with many leadership and management skills as a bonus. The great thing about those skills is that I get to take them with me when I leave the Air Force. I can continue to influence people even after I retire, and I can continue to influence not only the next generation of Airmen, but the next generation of Americans.

Also, this allows me to fulfill the final reason I serve, which is to help provide a safe and free world for my children to grow up in and realize their own potential. I will continue to serve my family, my community and my country long after I retire.

So take a few minutes to think about why you joined the Air Force, and why you serve today. Keep in mind the perspective that service is not just doing your job in the Air Force, but influencing others to develop their leadership traits, core values and good moral character. Motivating others to reach their full potential in whatever they do, whether they wear a uniform or not, is truly a service to your country.