Profession of arms comprised of skilled warriors

  • Published
  • By Chief Master Sgt. Michael Zirkle
  • 90th Missile Wing command chief
F.E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. --  I've heard the term "profession of arms" used a lot lately, and it got me to thinking. The profession of arms is a calling that isn't easy. We are told where and when to be somewhere, what to do and, sometimes, how to do it. There was a story in the news recently about a soldier who was facing court martial because, as a single mother, she didn't want to leave her children when her unit deployed. Leaving family behind is tough, but it's a sacrifice we are expected to make. It's also why the first sergeants are always harping on having our family care plans up to date and executable.

Most professions are viewed by society as having a specific skill or trade. Look at doctors and lawyers; they have medical boards and legal bars to pass in order to gain acceptance into their profession. As service members, we have the same thing. We are screened as not everyone is fit to join our profession of arms. We are also trained, tested and evaluated constantly. If we can't cut it, we're out. We also have ceremonies and traditions to observe our achievements and advancement through the ranks. We have NCO and senior NCO induction ceremonies as well as quarterly and special award category ceremonies.

Next week we will celebrate our top professional performers during our annual awards banquet. We will honor our outstanding Airmen, NCOs, senior NCOs, company grade officers and civilian teammates. This is all part of being in a profession of arms.
In the inaugural edition of the Airman, a small reference book issued to basic military trainees, it states there are four pillars to being a professional Airman.

The first pillar is character. Character is the emotional, intellectual and moral qualities that distinguish one group from another. It is not only knowing the right thing to do, but having the courage to act upon that knowledge. In 1873, Thomas Paine said, "Character is much easier kept than recovered."

The second pillar is honor. Honor is having a keen sense of ethical and moral conduct. For us, that's loyalty and duty. When we take the oath of enlistment we are pledging to defend the Constitution and all that it stands for. That is part of honor. President Thomas Jefferson said, "Nobody can acquire honor by doing what is wrong."

The third pillar is personal integrity. This is our moral compass, our inner voice -- the voice of self-discipline and self-control. Personal integrity and honesty are trademarks of the profession of arms. Our word is our bond. Gen. S.L.A. Marshall once stated, "A person has integrity if his interest in the good of the service is at all times greater than his personal pride, and when he holds himself to the same line of duty when unobserved as he would follow if his superiors were present."

The fourth and final pillar is patriotism. If you remember I wrote an article on patriotism several weeks ago. Patriotism is each Airman's love and devotion to country. It's why we serve. Patriotism inspires us to live up to the standards and ideas of America's Airmen, even under prolonged and difficult circumstances.

According to President John F. Kennedy, "What you have chosen to do for your country by devoting your life to the service of our country is the greatest contribution anyone can make."

The profession of arms has been developing into a society of skilled warriors, tacticians and technicians for centuries. Since Sun Tzu, a Chinese general and military theorist, penned The Art of War during the fourth century, the profession of arm has remained a continually growing and proud society of hard working individuals. We have formed a team dedicated to defending our principles and values for our country. Be proud that you are part of this elite society of people who are willing to give the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms and American way of life.

Stay focused, and stay safe.