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F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. (AFNS - 7/1/2012) -- Early in my
Air Force career, I overheard an NCO say, "The only tradition in the
Air Force is constant change." I should clarify that he more
grumbled it than said it. I remember thinking how odd of an
expression that was, and how the disdain in his voice was
unmistakable. I was still very "blue" of course, so I had not had
any of the Air Force newness wear off yet.
Hundreds of Airmen stand in formation prior to marching in their Basic Military Training graduation parade at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, June 1, 2012. U.S. Air Force photo
by Staff Sgt. Torri Savarese |
It wasn't until about a year ago that I realized the
newness had worn off. It was within my first few days of
Airman Leadership School where it was explained to us that
we were to learn the Airman's Creed as part of our
curriculum. Before even realizing what I was doing, I found
myself spouting the same words I heard from that NCO, years
before. "The only tradition in the Air Force is constant
change," I mumbled to my fellow classmates. Some of them
laughed, some of them agreed, but I couldn't shake the numb
feeling that crept over me.
We all learned to recite
the creed, and most of us could say it on the spot. There
was something missing, though; something that lacked
conviction and true feeling. I have heard many people
grumble about the Airman's Creed, saying it is fabricated
motivation and just one more thing the Air Force is doing to
inconvenience its Airmen. People who feel overworked and
underappreciated ridicule the Air Force's "attempt" to
motivate its Airmen through something as ambiguous as a few
stanzas jotted down on a page. I have to confess I was one
of those people, until about a month ago.
June 1 was
an exciting day for me. My brother-in-law, Jonathan Savarese,
was graduating Basic Military Training at Lackland Air Force
Base, Texas. It was the first time I had been back to
Lackland since my own graduation almost six years ago. I
wanted to make sure my uniform was perfect from head to toe,
and that I was representing the NCO corps well. I knew the
young Airmen graduating would look to me as an example of
what the standard should be, and I knew I could not have one
hair out of place.
The pass and review was
spectacular; I had never seen anything like it before. Each
Airman, so proud of their accomplishment, marched as
straight and as perfect as it gets. I remembered how proud I
was when I marched that same bomb run, and my eyes started
to water. I held back emotion when every Airman pledged
their Oath of Enlistment; their solemn promise to protect
and defend the Constitution of the United States. I was
filled with pride to have these new Airmen as my brothers
and sisters, knowing we all came from the very same place,
and marched on the very same field.
The ceremony
culminated with the reciting of the Airman's Creed, which is
something every new Airman is taught from their first day of
BMT. I was worried the creed would come out as I have heard
it so many other times - mumbled, morose and monotone. I was
shocked when I heard the conviction of all the Airmen
speaking in one voice, "I am an American Airman..." I wanted
to join in with them halfway through their oration, and
wasn't surprised to see many other Airmen in the audience
already had. The final line of the creed was not spoken; no,
it was shouted in a unified voice that made the chills run
up and down my spine - "AND I WILL NOT FAIL!"
I know
that every Airman who comes into my keeping is still very
"blue" like we all once were, and I know how important it is
to grow that Airman into an exceptional NCO, despite my own
prejudices. I ask all of my fellow NCOs to take a minute and
reflect on your march down the bomb run. I ask each of you
look at your "blue" Airmen and not snuff out the pride and
excitement they have. Instead of trying to morph them into
shells of their basic-trainee selves, mocking their
motivation as something to be embarrassed about, can we
cultivate the professionalism, pride and determination they
come to us with? Can we let them remind us what it means to
be an American Airman? This openness to change will ensure
that we all will not fail.
By USAF Staff Sgt. Torri Savarese
90th Missile Wing Public
Affairs
Air Force News Service
Copyright 2012
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