Airman integrity: Imperative to military success Published Oct. 7, 2009 By Lt. Col. David Martinson 90th Missile Wing safety chief F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. -- Do you always do the right thing, even if nobody is watching? Are you the kind of person who avoids rendering a salute to a superior officer by turning aside or reversing directions? Do you run for the car or the building, or more commonly, wait inside while the national anthem is playing? Do you ignore the military rules once you're off base? I've been thinking about this, because someone asked me how we enforce motorcycle personal protective equipment requirements of Air Force Instruction 91-207 off base. You see, for the military biker, the PPE requirements do not magically disappear once they ride out of the base. The same doesn't hold true for our civilians, and let's face it; a few civilians can be seen taking off their helmets and other gear outside the gates. That's their right, though it is clearly a bad choice. You don't have to be in the Air Force very long before you know that civilians and dependents don't fall under Air Force jurisdiction once off base. But, it's not so for the military member. The military member is subject to military regulations and orders everywhere they go. Service members are trained and are required to follow lawful orders without question, regardless of their personal opinion or agreement with the order. But let's get back to the question I was asked. How do we enforce the AFI91-207 PPE requirements for military bikers riding off base? After all, nowadays, many civilian males sport short hair similar to, if not identical, to their military counterparts. And with civilian clothing, it's hard to distinguish a military rider from the civilian rider. We can't approach everyone and insist they show ID to establish their bona fides. So, what can we do? Well, we could do a lot of things, all of which would cost large amounts of money and manpower. But we shouldn't have to do anything. The Air Force Core Values Integrity First says it all. Let me break it down for you. Integrity means firm adherence to a code or standard of values. Being firm means without bending or breaking. And of course first means just that; our integrity comes first, before everything else. Integrity means you do what you are supposed to do each and every time, without regard to consequences. It means we don't drink and drive. It means we render proper respect to the flag, and those who are appointed over us. It means we dress and adhere to uniform and grooming standards. It means we follow lawful orders, even if no one is looking. There are no loopholes in integrity. There is no stretching the edges of integrity. It doesn't mean we follow one set of rules and not others when our bosses aren't around. Integrity means we are in complete 100 percent compliance with the rules, anytime and anywhere, regardless if we know we're not being watched or regardless if we can be caught doing the wrong thing. So I ask you again, what kind of person are you? Will you stand in the middle of the parking lot or empty field rendering a salute to the flag while the national anthem is played even though no one is watching you? Will you do the right thing even though you know you can get away with doing the wrong thing? Do you have integrity or not? If you do, the question of complying with motorcycle PPE is moot. If not, well, maybe there are other professions more suitable for you. Sound harsh? Not really. A military organization cannot succeed without integrity. And, regardless of whether it's wartime or peacetime, a military unit must succeed. Knowing and adhering to standards, abiding by the law and following lawful orders are critical to what we do. A successful leader follows and enforces all the rules, not just the ones that are convenient to their personal situation. Our nation expects nothing less from its warriors.