Newest airmen will train to be warriors

  • Published
  • By Col. Robert Holmes
  • 37th Training Wing commander
LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) --  "Warriors: training for success, training to win!"

These words guide 37th Training Wing leaders and instructors in setting the conditions for training our newest airmen at Lackland and their transformation as members of the world's greatest air force.

The leaders and trainers here are responsible for and accountable to each of these new airmen to instill in them a war fighter's spirit. Additionally, we bolster their confidence with awareness that they are a vital resource in America's air and space force; and their success ultimately results in a winning air force.

We strive to instill in our new airmen the commitment to defend our nation against all who threaten our way of life, especially in the present war on terror. Moreover, we emphasize that airmen are peacemakers in a worldwide community. Our rapid global reach enables us to conduct peace missions and provide humanitarian aid and relief around the world with the same assets we use to wage war. We employ cutting edge technology that leads the world in information superiority. In short, we are the best.

However, the 37th Training Wing, and ultimately our Air Force cannot be the best and perform its core combat or peace-making tasks without great people -- airmen and civilians. People are more important than our equipment or processes. In reality, if we don't “have the people,” we don't “have a mission.” There should be no doubt. Our greatest resource is the men and women who serve with pride; adding their worth and value to our force; executing our mission.

As warriors and airmen, our core values are the bedrock by which we live and execute our mission. Integrity, service and excellence serve to guide us as individuals and as Air Force members. With this internalized value system, doing what is right when no one is looking becomes simple, a way of life. Integrity, service and excellence are not "bumper stickers", but the core of our existence as the world’s best air force.

Recently, the actions of both our airmen and civilians during operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom displayed these core values in action.

Our expectations are set very high for today's newest airmen. We expect them to carry out vital Air Force missions. To make these expectations a reality, we leaders and trainers set the conditions for their success. It only follows that leaders are accountable to the people they lead. We are responsible to make sure our airmen are trained and ready to meet mission goals.

We should expect the best from the airmen we lead; so at times we must be tough and demanding as leaders. We can be even tougher and more demanding; but, ensure it is done with clarity, dignity and respect, on and off duty.

It is simple. If you give respect you will get it. Supervisors who lead people to the mission, with dignity and respect, will ultimately lead them to success.

In addition to exceptional leadership, we must provide positive motivation. Fear and harassment are never used as leadership tools. In today's Air Force, people serve because they want to serve not because they are being forced to "march with muskets."

This doesn't mean we are a softer Air Force -- but rather the opposite. It means we are smarter; we are tougher on ourselves and know how to do it better. Commitment to our Air Force and our mission will be there because of our core values. It will be there because as airmen, we fiercely desire to accomplish the mission.

We will do this because we are warriors, training for success, training to win!