Warrior Mindset Published April 27, 2015 By Chief Master Sgt. Zaki "Tico" Mazid 9th Communications Squadron BEALE AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- There are multiple definitions and personal views for the word warrior, all of them state that a warrior is "A person who fights in battles and is known for having courage and skill." Mindset is defined "As the ideas and attitudes with which a person approaches a situation, especially when these are seen as being difficult to alter." We all fight wars and face our own battles in our work, within our families and in our personal lives...Embracing life with a warrior mindset will help you succeed. To live life with a warrior mindset, we must embrace the warrior ethos - courage, honor, loyalty, integrity and selflessness; this cannot only be applied to our professional careers, but also to our daily interactions as well. Have the courage to set high standards for yourself and your Airmen; standards are the fabric of our profession. Failing to hold individuals or ourselves accountable will ultimately have a negative impact on the mission, our Airmen and our lives. Honor is earned by our actions and not granted by birth or rank; be honest with yourself, your subordinates and leaders. It is better to be a straight shooter and upfront than to sugar coat things and tell people what they want to hear. Be loyal to the profession of arms. Continue to hone your skills to answer our nations call; this includes staying physically and mentally fit to face life's challenges and adversities. Have the integrity to take responsibility for your own actions and not allowing command influence or awe of rank to govern your ability to always do what's right, regardless of the consequences. Selflessness enhances unit cohesion and mission effectiveness; being a warrior is not about you, it's about your brothers and sisters in arms to your left, right, front and back. If necessary, selflessness means protecting your country with your life. The warrior mindset can be best described by what the Spartans call the Law of the Shield: "This is my shield, I bear it before me in battle, but it's not mine alone, it protects my brother on my left, it protects my city, I will never let my brother out of its shadow, nor my city out of its shelter, I will die, with my shield before me, facing the enemy."