WEBVTT

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- (steady drums)

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- [Narrator] There have always been civilians

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in the Air Force,

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right there with us, side by side, at home and deployed.

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We wore the uniform and they didn't.

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But they took that oath, to support and defend

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the Constitution of the United States

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against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

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Chances are, that oath means more to them

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than anybody can imagine.

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We're all part of the team.

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They could've taken their skills anywhere,

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but they brought them to the Air Force.

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Some of them have been here longer than us,

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and they'll be here when we've moved on.

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They're the ones with lifetimes of experience,

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they're the ones with fresh-faced enthusiasm,

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patriotism.

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They're the ones who are here to be part of something

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bigger than themselves,

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to serve their country and lead in any way they can.

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Are they airman?

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Some are separated or retired,

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some came in through an intern program,

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or basic federal employment opportunity.

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Some were Marines, Army, Navy, Coast Guard.

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A lot of them do what we do, better.

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They do it for the same reason we do: country.

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A team is not the people you work with,

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a team is the people you trust.

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Ask any airman what the civilian's purpose

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in the Air Force is, and you might hear

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that civilians are here to provide know-how and support.

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And just about every airman would tell you

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that civilians aren't just part of the team,

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they're a critical part of the team.

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So think about this:

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if everybody on a team supports each other,

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how are we supporting them?

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Simple, with our respect.

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This if for all you civilians watching this:

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the electricians, the defenders, engineers, child care,

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instructors, logistics, finance, human resources,

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all 180,000 men and women without whom

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this Air Force would grind to a halt in a split second.

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You.

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Our civilians.

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You may not stand at attention,

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but you stand for everything that is good and right

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about this country.

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You may not wear the uniform, but you do wear the mission.

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You are part of this team.

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You embody our core values,

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and there's such a thing as respect.

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We are never required to salute civilians,

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but we are allowed to.

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So we salute you.

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We thank you.

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And to every single one of you, we say this:

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Aim high, Airmen.