New Mexico Minuteman - Summer 2011 - Keep Trees

Service before Self: A way of life
By Staff Sgt. Rick M. Ahumada
The United States Air Force has three
main Core Values that Airmen model themselves
after; “Integrity First”, “Service before
Self” and “Excellence in all we do”. The
Core Values are much more than minimum
standards. They remind each Airman what it
takes to get the mission done. They inspire
Airmen to do their very best at all times. They
are the common bond among all comrades
in arms, and they are the glue that unifi es the
Force and ties service members to the great
warriors and public servants of the past.
At the New Mexico Air National Guard
150th Fighter Wing, the members are taking
the core value “Service before Self” straight
into the community in which they work.
As the 150th FW prepares for the transition
from a fi ghter wing to a multi-purpose
wing, several squadrons found extra time
to serve the community they enlisted to
protect. Recently, they have been protecting
it in an entirely different manner.
With the economy in a recession, many
individuals have found themselves in serious
fi nancial distress. Some individuals and
families have lost jobs, homes, and the ability
to provide for themselves and their families.
Agencies like community food banks
and shelters have been overwhelmed by the
demand for services and need all the donations
and support they can get. More importantly,
they need volunteers to help sort and
distribute their donations and services.
This is where the 150th Maintenance
Operations Flight Squadron comes in.
Tech Sgt. Jason Canham and Master Sgt.
Mike Stage of the 150th MOF took time off
their busy schedules to volunteer and serve
their community. Recently, Canham coordinated
an event where 150th MOF squadron
members volunteered at the Road Runner
Food Bank in Albuquerque. The volunteer
Guardsmen and women sorted and packaged
food for distribution to needy families.
Another event, coordinated by Stage,
was where the 150th MOF served breakfast
to homeless families at Joy Junction in
Albuquerque.
New Mexico Air Guard members not
only understand that they are here to serve
our country and our state, but they also
understand that they are here to serve the
community in which they live and work.
As Stage said, “It is important to help
those in need because any one of us could
fi nd ourselves in the same situation; and
we would hope that there would be a place
we could go for help.”
As Air Guard members, it is important to
never forget our core values: Integrity First,
Service before Self and Excellence in all
we do. Guard members like Canham and
Stage remind all Guard members of the reasons
they became Airmen and answered
the call.
Summer 2011 / NEW MEXICO National Guard 23