Veterans Blog

Aviation Cadet Honor Code

The following was borrowed from the book, "We wanted wings; A history of the aviation cadet program", written by Dr. Bruce Ashcroft. 

OFFICER CODE
Duty well performed, Honor in all things, Country before self.

AVIATION CADET HONOR CODE

Article 1: An Aviation Cadet will not knowingly make any false statement, written or
verbal, while acting in any capacity, official or otherwise, or in any situation reflecting on the Aviation Cadet Corps or the Air Force.

Article 2: An Aviation Cadet will not take or receive the property of another person, or
persons, under any conditions, without specific authority of that person or persons.

Article 3: An Aviation Cadet will not impart or receive any unauthorized assistance,
either outside or inside the classroom or places of instruction, which would tend to give
any Aviation Cadet unfair advantage.

Article 4: An Aviation Cadet will not quibble, use evasive statements, or technicalities in
order to shield guilt or defeat the ends of justice.

Article 5: An Aviation Cadet will report any violation of honor by another Aviation
Cadet of which he is witness or has unquestionable knowledge.

Article 6: An Aviation Cadet will not commit any act of intentional dishonesty which will
reflect in any way on the honor and integrity of the Aviation Cadet Corps and the Air
Force.

Officer Code and Cadet Honor Code both from the brochure, “Aviation Cadet Knowledge,”
Preflight Training School, Lackland AFB TX, 1959.

It's nice to know that some things haven’t changed much!  Nearly 50 years later the Air Force's Core Values embrace the same message:

"EXCELLENCE IN ALL WE DO * INTEGRITY FIRST * SERVICE BEFORE SELF"

Just Stay

Every so often you hear or receive words about something that warms your soul.  For example, I just received this from a friend who emails me quite often.  I hope you will ponder the message it brings.

A nurse took the tired, anxious serviceman to the bedside.

"Your son is here," she said to the old man.

She had to repeat the words several times before the patient's eyes opened.

Heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack, he dimly saw the young uniformed Marine standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand.  The Marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man's limp ones, squeezing a message of love and encouragement.

The nurse brought a chair so that the Marine could sit beside the bed. All through the night the young Marine sat there in the poorly lighted ward, holding the old man's hand and offering him words of love and strength.  Occasionally, the nurse suggested that the Marine move away and rest awhile.

He refused. Whenever the nurse came into the ward, the Marine was oblivious of her and of the night noises of the hospital - the clanking of the oxygen tank, the laughter of the night staff members exchanging greetings, the cries and moans of the other patients.  Now and then she heard him say a few gentle words. The dying man said nothing, only held tightly to his son all through the night.

Along towards dawn, the old man died.  The Marine released the now lifeless hand he had been holding and went to tell the nurse. While she did what she had to do, he waited.  Finally, she returned. She started to offer words of sympathy, but the Marine interrupted her.  "Who was that man?" he asked.  The nurse was startled, "He was your father," she answered.  "No, he wasn't," the Marine replied. "I never saw him before in my life."  "Then why didn't you say something when I took you to him?"

"I knew right away there had been a mistake, but I also knew he needed his son, and his son just wasn't here.  When I realized that he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son, knowing how much he needed me, I stayed."

The next time someone needs you...just be there.  Stay.

Epilogue: We are not human beings going through a temporary spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings going through a temporary human experience.  Have a great day and bless someone in some little way today!