2.3 Air Force Core Values (AFH-1 Section 1C)

2.3 Air Force Core Values (AFH-1 Section 1C)

Quick Answer: The USAF core values are Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence In All We Do. Each is defined by three virtues (desired behaviors): integrity by honesty, courage, and accountability; service by duty, loyalty, and respect; excellence by mission, discipline, and teamwork. They evaluate ethical climate and bind professional Airmen past and present.

Section 1C is ADTC C for SSgt and TSgt—the highest comprehension level in Chapter 1. Expect items that mix a value with the wrong virtue set. Learn the names, the one-sentence meanings, and the NCO behaviors.

Why the values exist

At the heart and soul of the profession, the USAF treats the core values as universal, consistent standards used to evaluate the ethical climate of all USAF organizations. In the cauldron of war they are beacons that light the path of professional conduct and the highest ideals.

Values are enduring guiding principles. Integrity, service, and excellence should motivate attitudes and actions on and off duty. They represent convictions about personal character, commitment to each other and the nation, and the manner of our service. They define identity through a common bond among all professional Airmen—past and present. Aligning actions with the values is how the USAF earns the public's trust, strengthens the service, and accomplishes the mission.

Virtues produce a professional

Each core value is further defined by virtues—desired behaviors and characteristics practiced in daily life. Consistently practicing them builds habits of honorable thought and action and produces a USAF professional committed to honorable service.

Integrity First

Integrity First is the willingness to do what is right even when no one is looking. Thoughts and actions must align with what the Airman knows to be right. Following principles, acting with honor, maintaining independent judgment, and performing duties with impartiality help maintain integrity and avoid conflicts of interest.

Virtues of Integrity First: honesty, courage, and accountability.

• Honesty is the hallmark of integrity. As public servants, Airmen are trusted agents. Honesty requires evaluating performance against standards and conscientiously and accurately reporting findings. Our word must be unquestionable.
• Courage is not the absence of fear but doing the right thing despite fear. It empowers Airmen to take necessary personal or professional risks, make unpopular decisions, and admit mistakes.
• Accountability requires leading by example, admitting mistakes, and doing the right thing even when it is unpopular or difficult. AFH 1 notes that surveys of USAF members have rated accountability as the most important foundational competency for career success.

CMSAF JoAnne S. Bass: the foundation of the Profession of Arms is, and has always been, respect—a non-negotiable principle that supports Integrity, Service, and Excellence.

Service Before Self

Service Before Self means professional duties take precedence over personal desires. It is selfless dedication to duty, including putting one's life at risk if called to do so. Service requires skill and a willingness to make personal sacrifices—a heart and mindset for expectations not levied on the American public or other professions.

Virtues of Service Before Self: duty, loyalty, and respect.

• Duty is the obligation to perform what is required for the mission. Responsibilities come from law, Department of Defense, and USAF directives, but the sense of duty is personal and bound by the oath. Duty sometimes calls for sacrifice in ways no other profession has or will.
• Loyalty is an internal commitment to the success and preservation of something bigger than ourselves. Order it: nation first, the values and commitments of the USAF second, and finally the people with whom we serve. Dissent goes through the chain of command; then professionals close ranks and execute.
• Respect encompasses self-respect, mutual respect, and organizational respect. We honor the USAF and others by following our words with actions.

Excellence In All We Do

Excellence In All We Do is a sustained passion for continuous improvement and innovation that propels the USAF beyond adversary capabilities. It does not demand perfection from everyone in everything. It means advancing craft and knowledge—developmental education; physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and moral shape; professional competencies; and personal readiness. AFH 1 warns: accelerate change or lose now.

Virtues of Excellence In All We Do: mission, discipline, and teamwork.

• Mission focus encompasses operations and excellence in stewardship—ingenuity, expertise, and elbow grease from all Airmen, with people as the platform for improvements and innovation.
• Discipline is an individual commitment to the highest personal and professional standards, shown in attitude, work ethic, PME, and how appearance and words represent the USAF.
• Teamwork is essential at every level: recognize interdependency, give your personal best, and help wingmen carry their weight.