Character counts

  • Published
  • By Col. Michael Isherwood
  • 355th Wing vice commander
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. (AFPN) --  “At least I can say I served with men of character.” -- Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower

General Eisenhower wrote those words to his son when rumors surfaced that he would be forced to retire during the early days of World War II. Serving with men and women of character for the good of our nation is perhaps the single greatest reason why we remain in uniform.

Simply said, character counts.

This is true of the Airmen I see as I travel to the flight line, backshops and work centers.

I find young Airmen of character. They tell me how it is. Good and bad. I can sense their unease at passing along bad news. I suppose they fear they might get blamed or that they’re making their leadership look bad. Their character allows them to shoot straight with me and pass along bad news.

But this wing's leaders are not interested in blame. They are committed to fixing problems. If we don’t know the problems, we can’t get the resources, time or training to allow the mission to get done.

This same character must be present when we take off our uniforms after our shift and on weekends. Our standards apply 365/24/7. We must demonstrate our integrity fresh each day.

How? There are many examples.

You and I surely have seen examples when we’re out with friends at a restaurant, club or someone’s house. We see someone have a couple of beers or alcoholic drinks. The “easy” thing is to not say anything … not to highlight them as not able to drive home. Or, we see a fellow Airmen, underage, with a beer in their hand. Our character, however, compels us to step up and shoot straight with them. In the first case, get their keys. In the second case, get them a soda.

That’s how character counts when we’re out of uniform. Character is not a light switch that we turn on when convenient or when we put on our BDUs or flightsuit.

We must have character as we develop and nurture our Airmen. Our Airmen are the foundation of our combat power. How we develop them is how we develop and sustain our warrior culture.

Character is what compels you to set aside your interests to help the “new guy” or young Airman master his or her career development course or technical skills. You pause on your way home or to lunch to ask how he or she is doing. Then, you act … to help that Airman learn what you know. That’s character.

We must have character when we show installation stewardship. We translate “don’t walk by a problem” to “pick up that empty plastic bottle” along the curb at the Base Exchange. You set the example. That’s character.

We must have character as we prepare to deploy when ordered. It is how we take the fight to the enemy. You and I have a personal readiness folder. It has dozens of actions that must be done. They take time, but they are important. When we do them, that is character.

Finally, we must have character when we fight when called. Airmen here have demonstrated character in spades for years.

The attack pilot showed it when he provided close air support to help Soldiers and Marines caught in a firefight. Rescue and Compass Call crews are showing it as you read this, in the air and on alert in Iraq and Afghanistan. What they do is irreplaceable and critical to saving American lives and getting the mission done.

Security Forces showed character as they stood alert at the entry point to Balad and other bases. They stood alert for the next suicide bomber.

The explosive ordnance disposal Airmen showed character when they disarmed more than 260,000 pounds of explosives. Several hundred improvised explosive devices were among that count. They did almost 1,000 missions, most while under direct and in-direct fire.

Vehicle operators showed character as they drove more than 500 convoys in Iraq. They delivered a million tons of supplies. And, they were attacked more than 100 times. One Airman told me how an rocket-propelled grenade ricocheted two feet in front of him. Another told a story of how he recognized AK-47 slugs passing through the cab of his vehicle.

These Airmen are steadfast in their duty. Their character gives them a sense of purpose and drive to get the mission done, to not falter as part of the team, not let their buddies down around them.

Soon I will deploy. We know that it is not if or when we will come under hostile fire. They question will be how often. I will be surrounded by the finest our nation has to offer. Airmen who never apologize for our conduct under fire. They understand that character is not a light switch they turn on only when the bullets start to fly.

Each day, I strive to reflect the privilege to serve along side you, men and women of character.