'Above All' slogan encapsulates Air Force

  • Published
  • By Chief Master Sgt. Michael Williams
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing command chief
TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  Have you heard the Air Force's new slogan - "Above All?" Have you seen the "Above All" commercials depicting real Airman, not actors, executing their mission? The new slogan is part of a new recruiting and awareness campaign launched to tell the Air Force's story.

The American public needs to know that their Air Force is entrenched in the Global War on Terrorism. On any given day, the Air Force has nearly 26,000 Airmen with boots on the ground supporting the war effort. We, Air Mobility Command, have moved approximately 4.6 million tons of cargo in the war zone. In fact, the Air Force has been engaged in the war effort for nearly 18 years. I know you're saying to yourself, "We understand first hand the impact the Air Force is having on the war, but what about the new slogan - more changes; can we settle on a slogan and not change it every few years?" Yes, you're correct, this is our fifth slogan in the past 22 years and our fourth in seven years: Aim High (1984 to 2000), Cross Into the Blue (2002 to 2006), Do Something Amazing (September 2006), No One Comes Close (2006 to 2008), and now Above All.

Initially there were concerns that the "Above All" slogan would give the impression the Air Force believes we're better than our sister service and that's simply not true! We're the only service charged with protecting three domains air, space and cyberspace. The Army and Marines' domain is land; the Navy and Coast Guard domain is the sea. Our new slogan is specific to our mission and distinguishes us from our sister services.

Of all the previous slogans, this new slogan encapsulates what we do and who we are: American Airmen whose mission is to fly, fight and win in air, space, and cyberspace. We are guardians of freedom and justice, sworn to patrol the skies as we defend and protect our nation's borders with our lives. The world has changed and threats to our way of life are consistently emerging.

Therefore, we must also transform the way we protect American's interest and ideals at home and around the globe. As we soar "Above All" we evolve to meet new threats. We, the Air Force, are not simply focused on this particular war, we are focused on the future and our new slogan embodies that vision.

No, every Airman does not fly or launch satellites into space; however, it takes every Airman, regardless of their specialty, to accomplish our mission. It's not our planes, satellites or technology that places us above all, it's the Airman!

Be proud of your new slogan, respect our proud heritage, and the tradition of honor of the American Airman whose mission is to soar "Above All" and dominate in air, space and cyberspace.

Have a great weekend and as always: be safe, make responsible choices and I'll see you around campus.