Are you a CUT above?

  • Published
  • By Col. Bob Staib
  • 1st Expeditionary Red Horse Group commander
SOUTHWEST ASIA (AFPN) --  When the 819th Red Horse Squadron was reactivated in August 1997, the unit adopted the squadron motto: Unity, Teamwork, Commitment. Shortly after assuming command, I realized this motto had drifted away. So I brought it back, shuffled the deck and turned the words around to Commitment, Unity, Teamwork. In effect, I took the first letter of each word and added a slogan ... “a CUT above.”

I must admit this initially was just a catchy way to reflect our squadron motto and make it easier to remember. However, after further reflection on these three words, I realized that commitment, unity and teamwork really form the building blocks of success for our Air Force.

COMMITMENT means being dedicated to a cause. In the armed forces, it is called service to our country and dedication to the cause of freedom. The success of any team or unit requires the individual commitment of its members. If the individuals are not committed, then the team has little chance for success.

Commitment requires us to adhere to our Air Force core values of Integrity, Service Before Self and Excellence In All We Do. I have a motivational art picture on my office wall with the word “commitment” which is clearly illustrated by the accompanying quote from our president after the fateful day on Sept.11, 2001: “We will not waver; we will not tire; we will not falter; we will not fail.”

Commitment is the foundation of success, but without bringing that commitment together in unity, we’ll just have a chaotic bunch of individuals without a sense of coordinated purpose.

UNITY is singleness of purpose and focus. It is the pulling together of individuals in the realization that the whole is greater that the sum of each individual part.

Unity implies agreement. It is the acknowledgement of an established bond so the unit can forge together, as one, toward the goal.

Sun Tzu, the ancient Chinese war philosopher described the ultimate value of unity this way: “He whose ranks are united in purpose will be victorious.”

Once you’ve gotten personal commitment from the members, and the members come together in unity, the third building block is teamwork.

TEAMWORK means working together to get the job done.

Teamwork implies unselfish dedication and effort for the betterment of the team, rather than individual glory.

Teamwork needs to take place on all levels. It must occur between individuals, within and throughout the unit and between units as part of a bigger team, whether a wing, a major command or the entire Air Force.

When you’ve achieved all these building blocks -- individual commitment, coming together in unity, displaying unselfish teamwork -- then you, your unit and our Air Force will truly be a CUT above.