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What does service before self really mean?
Posted 11/16/2006 Updated 11/16/2006
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Commentary by Col. Martin Whelan
91st Space Wing commander
11/16/2006 - MINOT AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. -- We have all heard the Air Force Core Values and tried to include them in our daily lives.
Integrity and excellence are two values that we can easily grasp, but have you tried to understand what "Service Before Self" means? On the heels of a successful inspection, I think it is necessary to say that it is more than a passing grade. "Service Before Self" is an attitude that greatness comes from the team!
When the Air Force Core Values were first published years ago, I was convinced I understood what "Service Before Self" meant. Back then it meant long hours when needed, quarterly exercises and moving when and where the Air Force sent me. But I now know that my view was shortsighted. "Service Before Self" means much more -- it is a mindset that the team is greater than the individual and the mission is dependent on every team member doing his or her job.
The examples are everywhere. We take for granted the gate sentry will deter threats at the perimeter, so the team can execute their mission of maintaining missile systems or launching aircraft. We overlook the medical technician screening records late into the night, ensuring our deployers are 100 percent medically fit. We ignore the hours of dedicated service by missile field facility managers who ensure our key command and control nodes are 100 percent operational every minute of every day. We overlook the "high-energy" activities of Air Force joint tactical air controllers roaming through the hills of Afghanistan or cities in Iraq, enabling aircrews to put bombs on target and protect our fellow servicemembers. Each of these men and women go to their appointed duty stations to execute their missions, enabling the rest of us to focus on ours.
What if we chose self before service? Personal desire would erode reliable, standardized performance. Self-satisfaction would rule over mission accomplishment. Individual wants and needs would overwhelm our capability to support our troops, and negative attitudes would be everywhere. Convenience would be our watchword. That is an Air Force that would not operate.
So how do we achieve "Service Before Self?" We need to put balance in our lives. If we lose money, health, spirituality or family, we lose the energy that keeps us going.
With the proper balance, you will find it easier to make the sacrifices when necessary.
Save money when you can, and spend when you must. Establish an exercise ritual and interrupt it only when mission requires. Make time for your family and faith, knowing there will be times when they have to allow you to work. The key to service is being able to serve. Keeping things in balance will allow you to serve.
Maintaining the readiness and ability to serve enables each of us to put aside "self" for service. This requires finding the balance between what we want and what our nation needs. We need to ensure that we have the skills and abilities to do our job; that we apply the proper amount of energy needed to succeed; and at the right times, we make the personal sacrifices needed to ensure team success.
"Service Before Self" starts with the ability to serve and peaks when we step up and put the needs of the team ahead of our personal needs. |
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