Why I serve Published Feb. 24, 2009 By Senior Master Sgt. Jeffery McWaine 305th Dental Squadron McGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. -- As I watched representatives of our nation assemble in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20 for the Inauguration of our 44th president, I was deeply touched by the great strides that we as Americans, and more importantly, military citizens have made over the past 200 years. As military citizens and leaders, we must be able to articulate to any audience, whether military or civilian, why we decided to arm up in a military uniform and provide an invaluable service to our nation. I will endeavor to enlighten you on some specific reasons why I made the commitment to serve my country and hopefully jog your memory and shed some light on why you continue to wear the blue uniform. My reasons for joining the Air Force were three-fold; to serve my nation with honor and pride, to protect our principles of freedom and to explore world culture through military experience. Undoubtedly, some of you can relate to at least one of these reasons and would agree that the Air Force core value of "service before self" is linked to each one. The pride and honor that has been exemplified by the legacies and "lessons learned," left behind by many of our former leaders, are both overwhelming and refreshing. Gen. Carl A. Spatz, our first Air Force Chief of Staff, served our nation in his capacity from Sept. 26, 1947 to April 29, 1948. This great military leader laid the path by continuing to focus on military airpower and as a result we have evolved into an unstoppable force by controlling air space. When I reflect on the countless contributions of all of our Chief Master Sergeants of the Air Force and more importantly the dignity and esteem which accompanies the prestigious position, it sends chills up and down my spine. The CMSAF position created in 1966 and first filled in 1967 by Chief Master Sgt. Paul W. Airey, set the enlisted force on a volatile path to great achievements by initially charting all of our successes and advocating the many talents and leadership abilities the enlisted force could bring to the table. These two great pioneers serve as an example for us to emulate and inspired the many accomplishments of our Air Force today. Freedom doesn't come cheap for our nation, and many have paid the ultimate sacrifice of unselfishly giving up their lives to ensure all Americans are able to move about the country without fear. Reflect on World War I, Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, just to name a few, and think about the bloodshed. Do the math and one will quickly learn that these events resulted in the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives. If that doesn't represent love for our country, then I don't know what does; and personally, I can't think of a more heroic act that could be committed by anyone that would outshine their contributions. Over the course of my 23-year career, I have had the pleasure of visiting more than 30 countries while serving in overseas and stateside locations. Service in the United States Air Force is not just a job, but a way of life and we should all be proud of being part of a team that is second to none. So, it doesn't matter if you are the guys and gals turning wrenches in the maintenance shop, the medics who ensure our physical and mental health, or part of the 305th Services Squadron; every piece of the mission is important. It is imperative that we as Airmen (military and civilian) remain focused on completing the mission. And when we become complacent or ask ourselves - "Why are we still serving?" -- I sincerely hope your response will be, "I serve because of the honor, dignity and courage of the brave men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice for my freedom." Let us not forget the pride of those who served before us!