Special Warfare SEL Emphasizes Warrior Ethos During NCO Induction Ceremony Published April 12, 2024 By Julian Hernandez 433rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas -- The 433rd Airlift Wing and the 960th Cyberspace Wing welcomed a new crop of non-commissioned officers during an NCO Induction Ceremony organized by the Rising Six Council on Apr. 6 at the Inter-American Air Forces Academy Auditorium, here. NCO Induction Ceremonies serve as an official welcoming to the NCO Corps for Airmen who have accepted the responsibility of enlisted leadership. During the ceremony, the inductees received the NCO Charge, which outlines responsibilities and expectations for all Air Force NCOs and took the oath of induction. Special Warfare SEL Emphasizes Warrior Ethos During NCO Induction Ceremony Col. William Gutermuth, 433rd Airlift Wing commander, congratulates a group of newly inducted Non-Commissioned Officers during an NCO Induction Ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas on April 6, 2024. NCO Induction Ceremonies serve as an official welcoming to the NCO Corps for Airmen who have accepted the responsibility of enlisted leadership. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jacob Lewis) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res Special Warfare SEL Emphasizes Warrior Ethos During NCO Induction Ceremony A group of new 433rd Airlift Wing and 960th Cyberspace Wing Non-Commissioned Officers and both wing's senior leaders pose for a photo after an NCO Induction Ceremony on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas on April 6, 2024. NCO Induction Ceremonies serve as an official welcoming to the NCO Corps for Airmen who have accepted the responsibility of enlisted leadership. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Jacob Lewis) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res Special Warfare SEL Emphasizes Warrior Ethos During NCO Induction Ceremony Family members, friends, and fellow Reserve Citizen Airmen applaud a new group of 433rd Airlift Wing and 960th Cyberspace Wing Non-Commissioned Officers during an NCO Induction Ceremony at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas on April 6, 2024. NCO Induction Ceremonies serve as an official welcoming to the NCO Corps for Airmen who have accepted the responsibility of enlisted leadership. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Jacob Lewis) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res The new NCOs were also taught about the heroism of Master Sgt. John Chapman, an Air Force combat controller awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in combat against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan in March 2002. Chapman is recognized as an embodiment of the warrior ethos and an exemplary Air Force NCO. Courtesy graphic created to honor U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. John Chapman, 24th Special Tactics Squadron combat controller, for our Fallen Warrior series on Aug. 18, 2023. The Fallen Warrior series highlights Fallen Warriors who exemplify our core values and paid the ultimate sacrifice. (Courtesy Graphic) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res In keeping with the warrior ethos theme, the Rising Six Council invited Chief Master Sgt. Nathan Cox, Special Warfare Training Group senior enlisted leader, as the guest speaker. Cox has 28 years of active-duty service and has served in a variety of positions within ACC, AFSOC, AETC, JSOC, and PACAF. Throughout his career, he has served as a Pararescue team leader, AETC instructor, sensitive activities operator, Flight Chief, Combat Development Superintendent, and Squadron Superintendent. Cox has 14 deployments in support of Secretary of Defense directed and overseas contingency operations. He outlined the warrior ethos as, “Honing the skills of disciplined violence, embracing adversity, accepting pain, expecting loss, and expecting victory.” Cox noted the Air Force does not offer an official definition of the warrior ethos and offered those points based on his personal experiences and reflections. “Warriors are not defined by their proximity to the battlefield,” Cox said. “Warriors are defined by how you fight… You can be a finance troop and exhibit the warrior spirit by fighting your fight, doing the right things, pushing through the grind, and not giving in to complacency and bad attitudes… That is your battlefield and that is your fight.” Cox challenged the new NCOs he was addressing to ensure each day they are living up to the expectations outlined in the charge and oath of induction He said, “We don’t earn our ranks, we don’t earn our positions. I don’t say that to mean you shouldn’t be proud of what you’ve achieved, but what you earn is trust. Ranks and positions of authority… those are entrusted, they’re not earned… You have to be worthy of that trust.” 433rd AW Commander Col. William Gutermuth addressed his newest NCOs following Cox’s powerful speech, also highlighting the importance of the warrior ethos and spirit. “Yes, we are reservists, and yes, we do a lot of training here on UTA weekends in San Antonio,” Gutermuth said. “But there is a big world out there that’s under a lot of pressure and a lot of threats.” Gutermuth added, “We are the ones who stand to make sure freedom reigns. I place my greatest thanks in those of you who are willing to take the flag and carry it forward, knowing there is risk and there are threats.” A group new 433rd Airlift Wing and 960th Cyberspace Wing Non-Commissioned Officers pose for a photo at the Inter-American Air Forces Academy Auditorium before an NCO Induction Ceremony on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas on April 6, 2024. NCO Induction Ceremonies serve as an official welcoming to the NCO Corps for Airmen who have accepted the responsibility of enlisted leadership. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Jacob Lewis) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res Congratulations to the following NCOs inducted on April 6th, 2024: Staff Sgt. Nichole Carroll, 74th Aerial Port Squadron Staff Sgt. Jexsira Detoma, 433rd Security Forces Squadron Staff Sgt. Warren Findley, 433rd Civil Engineer Squadron Staff Sgt. Mariah Gonzales, 433rd Operational Support Squadron Staff Sgt. Justin Jones, 26th Aerial Port Squadron Staff Sgt. Luis Martinez, 433rd Aeromedical Staging Squadron Staff Sgt. Julia Mortag, 433rd Aeromedical Staging Squadron Staff Sgt. Michael Norlin, 433rd Airlift Wing Command Post Staff Sgt. Jennifer Quiroz, 433rd Aerospace Medicine Squadron Staff Sgt. Frederick Smith, 26th Aerial Port Squadron Staff Sgt. Yolanda Vazquez-Jaimes, 433rd Force Support Squadron Staff Sgt. Steven Green, 433rd Force Support Squadron Staff Sgt. Carson Lafferty, 433rd Civil Engineer Squadron Staff Sgt. Tekorie Broughton, 433rd Civil Engineer Squadron Staff Sgt. Gregory Martinez, 50th Network Warfare Squadron, 960th Cyberspace Wing