Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne issued a new “Letter to Airmen” this week, offering his “thoughts” as part of an “ongoing process” to focus on USAF’s core values. On “Integrity First,” he writes, “We build and strengthen our character through the daily exercise of words, actions, and decisions.” Wynne believes that “Service Before Self” means airmen must make above-and-beyond-the-call-of-duty “the rule” of their service “not the exception.” He suggests that “Excellence in All We Do” implies that airmen must live up to the Air Force heritage. And, finally, he enjoins airmen to “maintain the moral high ground.”
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.