by C/MSgt Trevor A. Munson

Integrity, volunteer service, excellence and respect, every cadet knows the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) core values, but few understand their importance. Former United States Air Force (USAF) Chief of Staff, General Ronald Fogleman said, "Core values must guide our daily actions--even when no one is watching."

In 1947, the USAF adopted a set of core values and recently updated them in 1997. The USAF core values are: integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do. In February 1999, CAP adopted it's own set of core values. They are: integrity, volunteer service, excellence, and respect. The purpose of core values is to provide an individual with a code of ethics to direct their personal and professional life. These values can help you to make good decisions, improve our community, help our squadron excel, and show kindness towards other people. CAP and the USAF established core values to keep cadets, senior members, and USAF personnel directed morally. This paper will discuss the CAP core values, identify my leadership style, and how these values have influenced it.

The first CAP core value is integrity. Integrity means to be able to stand up for your beliefs even if they are unpopular at the time. A leader that exhibits this trait shows self-discipline, courage, and commitment. Recently, I refused accepting drugs from another teenager. He approached me in another room and dared me to try some. Because of CAP teaching me integrity, I made the right decision! If a cadet under my command was faced with the same situation, I hope they will make the right decision based on my example.

The next CAP core value is volunteer service. It includes: helping others and your community by volunteer efforts by showing kindness, caring, sharing, and compassion. All CAP members willingly give of their time, energy, and personal resources. Recently I volunteered with some cadets in building a trail. We worked all day at clearing brush, digging postholes, and clearing the trail. Although at times the tasks were physically demanding and menial, I did my best to be a team player and was an example to other cadets.

The third CAP core value is excellence. Excellence means to continually strive to be the greatest, to be diligent and industrious, and to surpass others in a moral sense. Excellence to me means to do whatever it takes without degrading your moral character. My ultimate goal in CAP is to achieve the Spaatz award. I can only accomplish this by being diligent and industrious.

Respect is the final CAP core value. It means to be courteous, polite, tolerant, appreciative, and accepting of individual differences. Ralph Waldo Emmerson said, "Trust men and they will be true to you; treat them greatly and they will show themselves great." As the leader of a flight, I am careful to be an encourager and not make quick decisions for my cadets until I understand their personality better. I give each of my cadets a chance at a position of leadership regardless of their stature, experience, or knowledge.

CAP core values have helped me to apply myself to be the best leader I can be. I have found that my leadership style is transformational servant leadership. A transformational leader shows subordinates their jobs, and directs them to perform their tasks with excellence. He is aware of their needs for personal growth, and motivates subordinates to work for the good of the organization. A servant leader is similar to a transformational leader; however a servant leader is more concerned with the development of those they lead. He feels obligated to look towards the interests of others and he believes he is accountable for the performance of those he leads. He also shows compassion, is a good listener, is humble, and empowers those he leads. I believe I meet these characteristics.

Having good core values are just the beginning of being a good leader. I have gained respect from my peers, seniors, and subordinates, and will strive to keep it by having integrity. I have been mentoring cadets and seek to increase my skills. It's the daily practice and striving for excellence that will help me to be a great leader, both now and in the future.