How to serve... in our Lives...in our Air Force

  • Published
  • By Col. Manuel Griego
  • 9th Maintenance Group commander
BEALE AIR FORCE, Calif. --  What an opportunity for my family and I to return back to Beale Air Force Base and the mighty 9th RW!  This round I'm honored to be back on the flightline leading aircraft maintenance professionals in the MXG.  As I look around, it is a comfort to encounter friends from the past, and definitely a highlight to meet new friends. I work with so many awesome teammates in the group and wing.  Now into my sixth month since returning to Beale, I've had a few moments to ponder how I got here nearly 23 years since I started my journey in the Air Force.  Particularly, it's been important to understand how I need to continue to serve others in my life, and how I need to serve in our Air Force.

Our Air Force core values: "Integrity First, Service Before Self, Excellence in All We Do," provide a common baseline to form a behavior expectation for those that commit to an oath of servitude to our nation.  Personally, I need to simplify many words and ideas to truly understand their meaning and value.  For me, our core values Bottom Line: live the golden rule...treat others as you want to be treated. 

As you take the golden rule and think about it, if we all served others by following this simple guide, would we ever have to worry about making someone upset?  Would you ever have to worry about what someone thought about you?  Would you have to worry about breaking rules, telling a lie, or keeping track of your story in order to not get in trouble?  In my opinion, the answer to all these questions is simply no!  The take away: living to serve and treat others, as you want to be treated results in success in life: at home and serving in the best Air Force in the world. A genuine happiness is derived from knowing your doing the best to serve others by treating and sacrifice for others; a commitment for us in uniform that is validated by the Oath of Enlistment or Oath of Office. 

I challenge everyone to make a conscious effort to give more to your family and professional cohorts. I can guarantee you that after 23 years and seeing the product of others living the golden rule; I still look forward to serving my family and my country!