New creed explains essence of Airmen, past and present

Chief Master Sgt. Rodney J. McKinley
USAF Command Chief

Airmen now have a creed that summarizes what it exactly means to be an Airman. Gen. T. Michael Moseley, Air Force chief of staff, introduced the new “Airman’s Creed” to provide Airmen with a tangible statement of beliefs that they can hold most dear.

The creed is meant to help invigorate the warrior ethos of today’s Total Force. Our warrior ethos is the war fighting-focused culture, conviction, character, ethic, mindset, spirit and soul we all foster serving in today’s Air Force.

 The four paragraphs were created from an extensive, collaborative effort and feedback from Airmen throughout the force. It was designed to resonate with Airmen past, present and future. 

General Moseley said that having an Airman’s Creed is like a blinding flash of the obvious: that it simply and concisely puts into words the warfighting spirit that exists in Airmen past and present. 

Here are some important things to know about the Airman’s Creed:

• It’s meant to give credit to the 700,000 Total Force Airmen who fight our nation’s wars, to give them a sense of ownership of a combatant organization.
 • The creed encapsulates what it means to be an Airman, to have pride in service and captures the warfighting ethos of the Air Force.
•  It was created to focus on and identify a spirit – a warfighting ethos – that transcends time from the past to the present and into the future.
• All Airmen should appreciate the renewed emphasis on our warfighting heritage, as it deepens and broadens our identity as warfighters.

The Airman’s Creed

I am an American Airman.
I am a warrior.
I have answered my nation’s call.
 
I am an American Airman.
My mission is to fly, fight and win.
I am faithful to a proud heritage,
a tradition of honor
and a legacy of valor.

I am an American Airman,
guardian of freedom and justice,
my nation’s sword and shield,
its sentry and avenger.
I defend my country with my life.

I am an American Airman:
wingman, leader, warrior.
I will never leave an Airman behind,
I will never falter,
and I will not fail.