Airman's Creed Plaque

I am a Warrior.

I have answered my Nation’s call.

I am an American Airman.

My mission is to Fly, Fight, and Win.

I am faithful to a Proud Heritage,

A Tradition of Honor,

And a Legacy of Valor.

I am an American Airman.

Guardian of Freedom and Justice,

My Nation’s Sword and shield,

Its Sentry and Avenger.

I defend my Country with my Life.

I am an American Airman.

Wingman, Leader, Warrior.

I will never leave an Airman behind,

I will never falter,

And I will not fail.

“The Airmans’ creed is about our people and an Air Force that is fundamentally different from any other service. This creed is about where we’ve been and where we’re going as an Air Force.” – General Moseley

I am an American Airman
Air Force members are Americans and are key defenders of the nation and the Constitution. Consider the importance. This phrase is repeated throughout the creed to remind us who we are as Airmen.

I am a warrior
Years ago, if you said this to a sister service they would laugh at you. The fact is the Air Force has transitioned as a force and we find ourselves involved in joint operations. Our Airmen are going "outside the wire" time and time again. Whether it is to clear roadside bombs or as a defense force in support of a convoy, our Airmen are there. Bottom line, Airmen don't just sit at a desk anymore.

I have answered my nation's call
We are all here by choice; there is no draft or government requirement to serve. Many of us might think we are here for an education, but as a wise chief once told me, "Are you willing to take a bullet for a master's degree? If your answer is no, then perhaps you are here because you inherently want to serve your country."

My mission is fly, fight and win
No mystery here. Everything we do is to ensure our aircraft fly. We as Americans will fight for what is right. If you think back to the tragedy of 9/11, people who weren't even military wanted to see justice come to those who killed innocent men, women and children.

I am faithful to a proud heritage, a tradition of honor and a legacy of valor
To understand where we are going we need to understand where we have been. This line is a reflection of our past successes that make the Air Force what it is today.

Guardian of freedom and justice
This is a call to the Constitution. Every member of the military swears an oath stating they will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies foreign and domestic; this line incorporates that oath into our creed.

My nation's sword and shield, its sentry and avenger
As the sword of our nation, we will take the fight to those who threaten us and our way of life. The sentry part sheds light on our ability to learn about our enemy and adapt our operations. As the avengers, we will fight for those who have fallen.

I defend my country with my life
The fact is, we might not take a bullet for a master's degree, but we all stand tall and would take one for our country and our way of life.

Wingman, leader, warrior
Every Airman is a wingman; that is, every member of the Air Force must take care of the other members around him. In a time of war or peace, each Airman is responsible for ensuring the safety and security of all others in the service.

I will never leave an Airman behind, I will never falter and I will not fail
This last line sets the tone of the whole creed. It represents who we are as Airmen and as Americans. As Airmen, no matter the situation, we all come home together. As Americans we will not waiver in our decisions and there is no way we will ever fail.