Integrity, Service, Excellence ... Day 49

TJ’s recruiting officer gave TJ pamphlets to study as his time to enter Basic Military Training (BMT/ boot camp) grew closer. This was to get TJ better prepared for the classroom training he would go through during BMT. The recruiter told TJ two of the most important things he should know were the Air Force mission statement and its values. The mission of the United States Air Force is to fly, fight and win … in air, space and cyberspace.  Its values are: Integrity First / Service before Self / Excellence in All We Do.

TJ is very familiar with the idea of having a mission, or goal, and knows that one’s values provide direction to meet that goal. But we never dreamed that the Air Force’s values would mirror so close to those we had instilled within both of our boys while they were growing up. TJ has been taught from his early grade school days that by staying true to God’s Word he could maintain his integrity in all areas of life. He was taught to always put God first, then others, and lastly, himself. And, we taught him that in everything he did, he was always to do his very best (excellence) because whatever he did, he was to do it for the Lord!

During BMT TJ’s flight had several different instructors (drill sergeants) for the first three weeks. Sgt. de la Costa was finally assigned to his flight for the final four. She stood about 5’2” tall, and if you ever saw her in civilian clothing, you probably would never have guessed that she was a boot camp drill sergeant. As the saying goes, NEVER judge a book by its cover – and never underestimate a drill sergeant based upon her size. She instilled more fear into those recruits than I ever imagined possible! She was also the one who put TJ in charge of cleaning the latrine in their dorm. For four long weeks TJ would stay up after all the others had gone to sleep, cleaning the latrine, polishing every piece of chrome until it looked brand new, wiping down all of the walls, washing every mirror making sure there wasn’t even one spot of even the tiniest size on any of them. He even earned the title “Latrine Queen” from his fellow recruits. He would work for two or more hours each night keeping it spotless – excellence.

At BMT graduation TJ showed us the latrine.
This was just the sink area - there was MUCH more!

It wasn’t until the Sunday afternoon of graduation weekend that TJ finally asked Sgt. de la Costa why she left him with that duty the entire time. This was an assignment that is normally given to the recruit who continually gets in trouble and TJ just couldn’t figure out what he had done to deserve this “penalty” for four weeks. She smiled at him and quietly replied, “Lombardi, I knew you were the only one that I could trust to do the job right and keep it clean.” She knew TJ not only knew the three USAF values, but he fleshed them out in EVERYTHING he did.

This past Sunday, September 19^th, Joe and TJ had a chance to instant message with each other. TJ had finished another tough day at one of the main gates. He said he worked really hard, spending much of the day sweeping and shoveling sand out of the gate guardhouse area. He was working to make the place look good. At one point during his shift he was required to give a “post brief.” He explained to Joe that he had to stand at attention and tell the inspector about his post. His Master Sergeant later told TJ that his post brief was probably the best one that he had ever heard. He went on to tell TJ that he has become known throughout the entire chain of command as one of the most outstanding airmen in the entire squadron, and then he encouraged him to keep up the good work. (The problem is that some of his peers don’t appreciate TJ’s excellence because it “shows them up”).

Joe encouraged TJ to continue doing an excellent job, to remain humble, and respectfully remind others that, along with them, he swore to live by the values of integrity, service, and excellence.

TJ’s reply to Joe was, “Hua!” which stands for “Heard, Understood, and Acknowledged!”

TJ not only has heard, understood, and acknowledged the values of the USAF -, he lives by them every single day!

Of course, I am one Very Proud Mom!