A way of life Published Dec. 15, 2009 By Master Sgt. Daryl Hogan 821st Support Squadron THULE AIR BASE, Greenland -- What makes serving in the Air Force a way of life as opposed to just another job, or simply an exciting career? All Airmen have a job to do, and my career has been rather exciting to say the least. But the way of life that I have accepted as an Airman is much more than a list of tasks to complete by the end of the day. This way of life that more than 300,000 of my brothers and sisters in arms share was forged in combat, taught in dining halls, celebrated in countless ceremonies, and passed to our generation for safekeeping and advancement, entails time honored and battle proven core values, avid volunteerism and a meticulous daily code of conduct. Our way of life is all about Airmen taking care of Airmen. Our core values are an intricate part of our way of life. Of our three core values - Integrity First, Service Before Self and Excellence In All We Do - it is service before self that often requires the greatest sacrifice and provides the greatest reward. Whether deploying for several months at a time, sacrificing much needed sleep to ensure a subordinate's award package is fine-tuned, spending countless hours at the side of a co-worker whose loved one is hospitalized, or training someone in a critical task after duty hours, Airmen have always sacrificed their personal comforts in the interests of putting their country, their units and their peers before themselves. As enlisted leaders, we must never compromise or fail to pass on to our Airmen the value of service before self. Volunteering in base and community activities is also an integral part of an Airman's way of life. Many base functions are draped in our proud heritage and give Airmen a chance to organize, set-up, participate in, and experience the celebrations and ceremonies once frequented by those who first donned our chevrons and insignias. In local communities, stateside and overseas, many organizations that assist children, the elderly, the physically and mentally disabled, and low-income families, would fall by the wayside if it weren't for the selfless contributions of Airmen. The importance of getting our Airmen involved in these functions and organizations while volunteering with them, side-by-side, cannot be overstated. A few hours can impact a lifetime. As I discovered in San Angelo, Texas, an Airman's conduct is always being evaluated. Proud citizens regularly approach Airmen, in and out of uniform, to tell stories of their children serving in the military, to explain what our patches represent, or just to say "Thank you for serving." They examined our conduct and smiled in approval of our customs and courtesies, often paying for an Airman's meal without identifying themselves. When an Airman's conduct off-duty was less than acceptable, it reflected on everyone in uniform. Serving as ambassadors on and off duty was part of our way of life. As former chief master sergeant of the Air Force Gerald Murray said, "We are family and each member makes a valuable contribution. We would not be the world's greatest Air Force without the hard work and daily sacrifice of every Airman." We must always be ready to respond to an Airman in need, lend a hand in our local community, and ensure our conduct is above reproach. It is by these actions that we manifest the richness of our core values, "integrity, service and excellence." These values form the foundation of Airmanship and ensure the preservation of what has commonly come to be known as, "our way of life."