Whereas U.S. service members come from society, nobody ought to “mistake the warrior few with the society they serve,” mentioned outgoing Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman Ramón “CZ” Colón-López right now.
Colón-López closed out a 33-year Air Drive profession, transferring his obligations to SEAC Troy E. Black throughout a ceremony at Joint Base Fort Myer-Henderson Corridor, Virginia.
Colón-López, a pararescuer, was the primary particular operator chosen to function enlisted advisor to the chairman and different senior protection officers. He mentioned there is just one means he can detach himself from the way in which of the warrior, “and that’s by having confidence that our Division of Struggle will proceed to be probably the most trusted, most deadly and most revered navy group within the nation.”
[Troops] know that, within the execution of their duties, they might pay the last word worth. They know that service shouldn’t be about self, it’s at all times in regards to the workforce.”
Outgoing Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman Ramón “CZ” Colón-López
Service members will proceed to earn that belief solely by adhering to the rules of sacrifice, responsibility, honor and dedication. “For a younger man or girl to enter a lifetime of navy service, a sacred oath should be taken,” he mentioned. “That oath will change into a very powerful promise they are going to make of their lives. The worth of acceptance into America’s warrior class is payable on sacrifice.”
Service members reply to a better calling. “As soon as they volunteer, they need to conform to a navy way of life — not the opposite means round,” he mentioned. “Service is about conformity, unity and self-discipline.”
“The values which can be acceptable in society akin to individualism, sensitivity and compromise are sometimes antithetical to the traits that get rid of or deter our enemies,” Colón-López continued.
The Air Drive veteran mentioned U.S. service members aren’t like most Individuals. “Our troops are a distinct form of American: They’re a subset of society outlined by that oath, by totally different legal guidelines and by their battlefield goal,” he mentioned. “They’re damaged of the human habits of consolation, taught to embrace unity and cohesion, and conditioned to combat the enemy.”
He mentioned U.S. troops embrace and respect their workforce. “They know that orders usually are not ideas,” he mentioned. “They know that fight has no room for debate. They know that, within the execution of their duties, they might pay the last word worth. They know that service shouldn’t be about self, it’s at all times in regards to the workforce.”
The nation should guarantee U.S. service members maintain that preventing edge, Colón-López mentioned, and that requires nationwide assist. “[The troops] deserve one of the best, most reasonable coaching to harden them for the hardship and horrors of fight,” he mentioned. “They deserve predictable funding to evolve, modernize and validate their fight capabilities. They deserve one of the best leaders to make sure their success in battle.”
What the troops do not deserve is “for use as bargaining chips for localized political agendas,” he mentioned. “They don’t should be financially hindered by persevering with resolutions. And they don’t should be slandered as an establishment for the actions of some.”
Colón-López mentioned lower than 1 p.c of Individuals serve within the navy. They’re the women and men keen to combat to defend their countrymen. He referred to as on all Individuals to assist service members “at residence with the identical loyalty, patriotism and honor they offer after they combat for you in international lands.”
