All Airmen are familiar with the Air Force’s Core Values: “Integrity First, Service Before Self and Excellence in All We Do”. Most Airmen would agree the most difficult core value to embody is “Service Before Self”. At face value, one could define this idea simply as “putting the Air Force before everything you do”. Air Force core values should be easy to explain and understand without justification- especially to our incoming Airmen. In a time where the Air Force actively promotes the importance of mental health practices, self-care and resiliency, is it possible one of our core values sends a conflicting message?
