Brigadier General Richard T. Kight was commander of the U.S. Air Rescue Service from 1946 to 1952, and penned the Code of an Air Rescueman: It is my duty as an Air Rescueman to save life and to aid the injured. I will be prepared at all times to perform my assigned duties quickly and efficiently, placing these duties before personal desires and comforts. These things I do, "That Others May Live".
As a Combat Rescue pilot and a member of the Combat Rescue community for most of my military career, I have lived by the Code of an Air Rescueman. A very powerful Code of Conduct that not only shaped my training as a tactical combat pilot but as leader as well. I have used the Code to guide how to lead those in my charge. “That Others May Live” is the principle that drives the rescue community and can drive all of us who are given the responsibility of leading others.
As a leader, I often thought about the Code from a leadership perspective in the following manner:
That Others May Prosper…It is my duty as a leader to ensure that all in my charge are given the opportunity to prosper. To help them provide for their future and families is crucial.
That Others May Succeed…It is my duty as a leader to ensure that I provide all in my charge with the tools and resources to be successful. When they succeed individually, the entire team succeeds.
That Others May have Purpose…It is my duty as a leader to ensure everyone in my charge know where they fit in the organization. To ensure they know how their particular job or skill is crucial to the success of the organization. Remind them often how important they are to the team.
That Others May reach their full Potential…It is my duty to help everyone in my charge to reach their full potential. That includes helping them develop goals and assisting them to achieve those goals.
That Others May be Happy…It is my duty to help those in my charge achieve the proper work/home life balance. To establish a culture in which everyone wants to be a part of the organization because it brings them joy.
A Code is a system of principles or rules…what is the code you follow? What are your principles or rules when it comes to leading others? Find your Code, make it part of your everyday life…you and those you lead will benefit tremendously!
--