COMMENTARY: Why do YOU put on a uniform?

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Travis Woodworth
  • 321st Special Tactics Squadron commander
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  When we all put on a uniform, we took an oath. For officers, part of their oath included the statement "... will well and faithfully ..." and for enlisted members, their oath included "... true faith and allegiance ..."

One way or another, the oaths we took as service members included "faith."

Faith, as defined by Merriam-Webster's dictionary, speaks to "assent of the mind to the truth." I am not referring to faith as it pertains to religion, but faith as in the belief in something bigger than you - whatever that may be.

With today's force shaping, drawdowns and cutbacks, we are all tasked to do more, to go beyond. I believe, to be successful, our motivation cannot hinge on the pay or prestige of our jobs ... it has to be about believing in something bigger that drives us all to do more.

I have a very good friend and previous neighbor who told me a story I would like to share. He just happened to be the ninth chief master sergeant of the Air Force, Chief Master Sgt. Jim Binniker.

The chief was asked to speak at a senior NCO induction ceremony, and his speech revolved around "believing in something bigger than you," and the importance of that. As the speech went on, Binnicker noticed a "seasoned" major who was restless in his chair. After the speech ended, the major waited until the room was empty and then he approached Binnicker. The major stated that he was an atheist and took offense to the chief's speech.

Binnicker, I'm sure in a professional manner, stated if the major was listening, he should have understood that he wasn't talking about religion, he was talking about being bigger than you are by believing in something more than yourself in order to have the necessary qualities to be a great senior NCO (or a great leader in general). And Binnicker, noting that the major was older than his typical peers and may have been passed over for promotion, questioned the major, "How is that (not believing in something bigger) working out for you?"

As leaders in the Air Force at all levels, we have to develop our own beliefs, whatever they are, as to why we do what we do.

My personal beliefs specific to the war on terror is twofold. One, I would rather fight this fight downrange in the enemy's battle space in order to minimize the already affected way of life we cherish at home in America. Two, if I give my life in that end so that my daughter and son do not have to fight an extra day, my sacrifice would be worth it. This is what drives me personally to lead.

In my particular community of special tactics Airmen, we have lost 17 Airmen to date, in the war on terror. I have had the honor, privilege and burden to be a flight commander, director of operations and acting squadron commander for some of these losses.

The time to figure out why or what you believe in - something bigger than you that drives you to put on that uniform - is not when you are facing a parent, spouse, son, daughter, friend or Airman who has lost a loved one.

Why do YOU put on a uniform?