“Discipline is the soul of an army,” said Gen. George Washington. “It makes small numbers formidable; procures success to the weak, and esteem to all.” These powerful words were captured in his July 29, 1757, Instructions to Company Captains speech. Not surprisingly, the wisdom of Washington’s words have not changed over time.

Today, much like in 1757, good order and discipline is the fundamental building block of our military. Therefore, fostering good order and discipline through personal example and courageous leadership is the responsibility of every Airman. We must ensure that we continue to sustain and enforce the standards outlined in Air Force Iinstruction 1-1 Air Force Standards in order to ensure we set the conditions required for good order and discipline.

Although the majority of our Airmen continue to perform at the highest levels of excellence, a small percentage engage in irresponsible behavior that impacts the entire Goodfellow team. These breaches in good order and discipline violate the dignity and respect of our wingmen, erode Airman development, compromise safety and security and ultimately impacts readiness and combat capability at a time when the United States faces existential threats. This behavior will not be tolerated because we own good order and discipline.

As a training base, our entire permanent party staff is charged with the duty to actively participate in the development of our Airmen trainees. I am convinced Airman development is a journey that extends beyond basic military training and continues during technical training. I commend the men and women of the 17th Training Wing for their commitment to the Airmen that represent the future of our Air Force; together there is nothing we are unable to achieve.

Peer leadership is hard. We are exceedingly proud of our Airman leaders for their service in pursuit of good order and discipline. It has been said that good order and discipline in the ranks is maintained by those willing to step in and rescue those in need, Airman or not, regardless of the consequences.

We will continue to lead by example as well as mentor and hold our Airmen accountable for their actions. I want our Airmen to understand they are responsible for their behavior. I also want to thank our leaders, at all levels, for their unwavering commitment to prepare our Airmen to fly, fight and win. The Chief and I are grateful and proud to serve with you as we, as a team, continue to train, develop and inspire our Airmen far beyond the training day.