Warrior Ethos Published June 29, 2009 By Chief Master Sgt. Arleen Heath 460th Sapce Wing BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- How fitting it is that the final month's theme for the Year of Leadership is Warrior Ethos. Especially fitting insomuch that the themes from the previous eleven months provided the foundational ethos we all live our lives by. You may recall previous months included back to basics focused on heritage, discipline, core values, training and education, followership, mentoring, character, safety, and fitness. Ethos, one and all are fundamental to our profession. Let us back up a minute...what is an "etho" anyway? Old reliable Webster gives us this definition of ethos: "The fundamental character or spirit of a culture, the underlying sentiment that informs the beliefs, customs, or practices of a group or society." I am sure everyone can see how each previous month's theme is an etho to our Air Force way of life. We believe in our ethos, we act on our ethos and we put our money where our mouth is with respect to our ethos. In short, to adlib from a popular toy store: Ethos R Us. Going back to Webster, a "warrior" is "a person engaged or experienced in warfare; a person who has shown great vigor, courage, or aggressiveness". Regardless of your career field, you cannot separate your volunteered military service from being a warrior. You are willing to die for our great country, you are currently engaged in warfare, you are a person of great vigor, courage, and if need be aggression. When you inextricably link your warrior mentality with the underlying ethos which has been highlighted throughout the Year of Leadership campaign, you generate an effective fighting force, recognized no less as the most powerful Air Force in the world! Be proud you are a part of it! I leave you with the Airman's Creed for I believe the words of our creed embody our Warrior Ethos! 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!