Tenacity means maintaining values Published Jan. 28, 2010 By Lt. Col. Michael Port 90the Operations Support Squadron commander F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. -- Like many of you, my schedule is always chaotic -- work, running kids to extra-curriculars, church and so on. Despite this fact, my family and I do our best to carve out at least one night per week to spend time together. This includes anything from watching a movie to playing a game. The other night we circled our chairs around the television to watch the movie "Rudy." This true story recounts the trials and tribulations of Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger, a smaller-than-average high school football player with a dream of playing Notre Dame Football. In the movie, Rudy's biggest challenge is not overcoming his small stature; rather it is to get accepted academically to Notre Dame. This is a daunting challenge for any student, let alone one with dyslexia. After three rejections and tireless academic pursuits at a local junior college, Rudy finally receives the letter that spring-boards him to his dream. What was that drive -- the guts that pushed him to never quit? I call it tenacity. According to Webster's dictionary, tenacity is being persistent in maintaining or adhering to something valued. Since 2007, we have been under the proverbial microscope with regards to the nuclear enterprise. We have worked tirelessly to prove to the world that we are the consummate professionals worthy of the responsibilities associated with our crafts. In the immortal words of President Ronald Reagan, "Our combatant command, our service, and our major command have lived by the adage of trust, but verify." In the past few years, we have been through at least eight major inspections, have had some hiccups, but persevered nonetheless. This is tenacity. In the movie, before Rudy takes the field for the first and last time, Notre Dame Coach Dan Devine provides a motivational speech telling his players that, "No one comes into our house and pushes us around." Over the last two weeks, the Air Force Global Strike Command inspectors came into our house, tried to push us around, but you didn't let them. You are all, and always have been, the best at what you do -- highly trained and dedicated to the task of operating, maintaining, securing and supporting the most awesome weapon system ever devised by mankind. As an American, I thank you for a job well done. Now is the time to take a well-deserved rest and re-bond with those most important in your lives. Just remember to never let your guard down, and always be tenacious.