Community support embraces Air Force core values

  • Published
  • By Col. David Coley
  • 60th Maintenance Group commander
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Integrity, service and excellence. These simple words epitomize the core values of our military profession. They are much more than minimum standards. They remind us what it takes to get the mission accomplished.

The Air Force Core Values inspire us to do our very best at all times. They are the common bonds among all comrades in arms the glue that unifies the force, tying us to the great warriors and public servants of the past. Equally important is our service and commitment to our community that allows our families to embrace these core values.

Webster defines community as a group of people with a common characteristic or interest living together within a larger society. This commentary honors those military professionals that embrace the Air Force core values and who selfless actions also create our military community.

While watching a T-ball game, I could see a perfect reflection of the Travis community. Squadrons, groups or wings did not define the game or the effort behind organizing it. I saw a community of moms and dads serving as coaches, cheerleaders and mentors. Their job, rank or position was left at home. All that mattered was the community of volunteers and supporters focused on inspiring and encouraging our future leaders of America. T-ball is but one microcosm of the Travis community that helps our family embody the Air Force core values.

There are many outstanding programs led, run and managed by the Airman and Family Readiness Center, but it's the informal volunteering efforts that make the military and Travis community special. This is often witnessed when a service member is injured, a new family member is born, during deployments or welcome home celebrations. Neighbors' organize themselves to provide meals, baby sitting, I've even seen self-help teams repair home, cars and landscape. Our Key Spouses, an all volunteer army of dedicated service-before-self warriors, play a critical role in fostering that community relationship.

Last year's Operation Pacific Passage was a classic example, when 2,617 service families arrived at Travis from Japan. It was not just our service members and key spouses, but our downtown partners who also pitched in to provide weary travelers a safe haven. These acts are why families cry at retirement ceremonies.

I have attended a lot of retirement ceremonies throughout my career as both a spectator and as an officiator. While you can always sense the pride of the family as their love one retires, you can also hear their deep sadness as they move away from the Air Force core values and the community that embodied them. In all my years I have never heard or seen a retirement ceremony where the retiree wasn't sad about moving. While most of this commentary focused on the community relationships for our family, there are professional relationships that allow our families to embrace our core values.

Last month, maintenance and operations group celebrated a historical event in the C-5 Galaxy community when the aircraft achieved the AMC mission capable standard for the first time in more than six years. While this community is more specific to operators and maintainer, their embracement of the core values makes this diverse community of professionals, special.

Integrity, service and excellence. These simple words epitomize the core values of our military profession and provide the foundation for our community. It is this sense that community gives our families the strength, courage and fortitude to allow their loved ones to choose a career in the profession of arms. It is the Travis community that affords us the opportunity to live up to our motto: Global mobility excellence ... answering the Call ... America's first choice.