The U.S Air Force operates under three core values: Integrity First, Service Before Self and Excellence In All We Do. I found in my years as a senior leader in our Air Force that many of our Airmen clearly understood the first and last core value, but sometimes struggled in defining that middle one, “Service Before Self.”
Many in the military would likely gravitate to the idea that service before self would mean giving one’s life in their service to the nation. The issue becomes that you are using the words in the definition…by my measure, you are therefore not defining it. So, if that is the challenge, the narrower question is what is service?
The dictionary will tell you that service is simply defined as “the action of helping or doing work for someone.” You’ll notice it doesn’t say voluntarily or at no cost/without compensation. That is where the “before self” piece comes into play. But who is “someone?” Another person? I would say yes and then some. It can be a person, a team, an organization, a nation or the world. The beauty is, you get to choose.
Service is not at all limited to the military and serving in it. Furthermore, it is not limited to the scope of what is considered “public service.” Arguably, it is simply putting someone’s or something’s (an organization for example) interest ahead of your personal interests. The key word or concept in this definition that I suggest is personal. There are many times where our personal interests are congruent with the organization’s interests or that of those around us, and that makes it easy for us to serve. The question is what do we do when they are not?
As a Fighter Wing Commander, I would routinely speak with our first term Airmen, those young enlisted troops who had just finished basic training and were arriving at their first assignment in the Air Force. The purpose was for me to lay out my expectations as their senior leader. I would always start out with the core values as the baseline of my expectations of their conduct, and I would put them into my words; simple language. Do the right thing when no one is looking, and do your best at the job our Air Force has asked you to do in service to the nation. That middle core value, the tough one, I summarized or simplified as: look to your right and to your left and put those two Airmen’s needs ahead of your own.
Service does not have to be sacrifice. Frequently, it simply means figuring out to how you align your personal goals with that of the team or organization. Sometimes however, it does mean sacrificing your personal desires for the benefit of the team. This is the basis of the saying “taking one for the team.” Avoid thinking of it as taking a bullet, but more as simply not taking credit; you’ll be surprised how positive and empowering it feels once you do it. On this Fourth of July, think about how to put your needs of your fellow Americans to the left and right of you ahead of your own needs…you’ll love how it feels; and look out, you’re leading when you do that.
Authored By: Scott Campbell, Managing Director