Service Before Self Published Jan. 21, 2009 By Lt. Col. Earl Scott 60th Aircraft Maitnenance Squadron commander TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Happy New Year Team Travis. What a year our installation had in 2008 - from "perfection" on the Unit Compliance Inspection and the Logistics Standardization Evaluation Program, to a hugely successful air show, and the monumental movement of passengers, cargo and fuel as part of our daily mission in defense of our great nation. However, with all the accolades, successes and feel-good stories, we'd be remiss if we rested on our laurels and expected similar results in 2009 without continuing to seek ways to improve. Those with whom I socialize on a regular basis know that I'm an avid Dallas Cowboys fan who is currently in mourning over my beloved team not making the NFL playoffs this year. With all the talent on their roster, all the money expensed to procure that talent, the glitz and the glamour, the high expectations and all the praise levied upon them, anything short of a Super Bowl victory would have been a disappointing season. Well guess what, there is complete and total bewilderment and frustration on the part of many a Cowboy fan. However, if we fans take a long, hard and insightful look at any of our favorite sports teams, I bet we can probably find one or more fatal flaws that prevented our respective teams from achieving their ultimate goal - a championship. The framers of our Air Force Core Values got it right - Integrity First, Service Before Self and Excellence In All We Do. I truly believe that integrity is the most important core value, because, quite simply, it's the glue that holds everything in our professional and personal lives together; and without it we'd fail miserably. However, for the purpose of this article, I'd like to focus on Service Before Self; or phrased another way, sacrificing, or temporarily setting aside your personal desires for a cause greater than yourself. According to Webster's Dictionary, service has many definitions, but the ones that best embody what we do everyday are: the work performed by one that serves, and contribution to the welfare of others. These two definitions appear to clearly summarize what our nation's armed forces do for our country. It doesn't mean that you should forsake your own well being, sacrifice your family or compromise your spirit; but instead, I submit to you that it means to strike a balance in your life, conduct your business with a sense of pride, honor and cheer and recognize that what you do and the manner in which you do it makes a difference. Every time you drive onto the installation you're making a conscious decision to serve others. Whether you work in flight line aircraft maintenance, fly one of our high-valued weapon systems, work in billeting, repair telephone lines, perform sentry duties at our gates, serve meals at our dining facilities, give someone a shot or distribute medication or keep our intricate communications infrastructure working - we're all serving someone and/or providing a service for the greater good. Let's not be like our failed sports teams in putting ourselves first, not sacrificing for the cause, and not looking for ways to improve, because, quite frankly, that's a recipe for disaster. I'd be wrong if I didn't urge all of us to find that section of our individual area of expertise where we can give a little more. As many of you know, I too have travelled our planet to execute the Global War on Terrorism and I feel that Service Before Self is the core value that allows Team Travis, and our entire armed forces, to be held in such high regard throughout AMC, the military community and the entire world. As always, thanks for all that you do in defense of our nation and have a great year!