Need to Know

Reframing the Core Values into Daily Actions

By Capt. Kyle Stielow

Colorado Wing Director of Cadet Programs

and Lt. Col.  Uei Lei

Colorado Wing Character Development Instructor

The Core Values of Integrity, Volunteer Service, Excellence, and Respect, are familiar to every member. Cadets are taught to remember the Core Values as “IVER” starting with Great Start. Cadets are often asked to repeat the values throughout their career. While cadets may be able to recite the values, the true challenge is to live out the values, especially in moments of tension, disagreements, fatigue, or competing priorities.

What if we, as the Chaplain Corps, in addition to affirming these principles, use and apply them as a decision-making framework?

By reordering the Core Values into RISE, we gain a practical tool to guide our choices, interactions, and leadership at every level of the organization. Beyond a mnemonic, it becomes heuristic and invokes the imagery “to RISE above the fray”, “RISE above conflict”, and “RISE above ourselves” and guides the cadets towards the “right” answers.

The heuristic:

Respect

“Are my decisions and choices respectful to my organization, the other parties involved, and myself?”

Respect as a foundation, builds trust and teamwork. In Civil Air Patrol, it means acknowledging the dignity and roles of everyone, including cadets, senior members, commanders, staff, and partners.

Respect shows up in everyday actions:

• How we speak when we disagree

• How we listen when others raise concerns

• How we treat those with less experience, different perspectives, or opposing views

When faced with a decision, asking the Respect question forces us to pause. Are we responding out of frustration, ego, or convenience, or are we choosing words and actions that reflect who we are as an organization?

Rising with respect does not mean avoiding hard conversations. It means having them with professionalism, humility, and care.

Integrity

“Are my decisions and choices maintaining the integrity of my organization, the other parties, and myself?”

Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching, especially when doing so is uncomfortable.

In Civil Air Patrol, integrity means:

• Following regulations and policies in both letter and spirit

• Being honest about limitations, mistakes, and risks

• Making decisions that align with CAP’s mission, not personal convenience

Integrity often asks us to rise above shortcuts, rationalizations, and “this is how it’s always been done.” It challenges us to choose transparency over expediency and accountability over silence.

When we act with integrity, we safeguard not only our personal credibility, but the trust placed in Civil Air Patrol by parents, communities, partner agencies, and the Air Force.

Service

“Are my decisions and choices a service to others, or only to myself?”

Service is the central heart of Civil Air Patrol. Genuine service can require extra work, stepping back, or supporting decisions for the greater good. Even if they're not our preference. Evaluating why we our service helps us examine our motives:

• Are we seeking recognition, control, or comfort?

• Or are we acting in a way that benefits cadets, members, the mission, and the organization as a whole?

Service-oriented decisions build resilient teams. They remind us that leadership is not about authority; it is about responsibility.

When we rise in service, we place the mission and people above ourselves.

Excellence

“Are my decisions and choices the most excellent choice I can make under the circumstances?”

Excellence is not perfection; it is the disciplined pursuit of the best possible outcome with the resources, time, and information available.

Excellence asks:

• Have I thought about this thoroughly?

• Have I sought input when appropriate?

• Am I settling for “good enough” when better is achievable?

In CAP, excellence appears in safe operations, thoughtful training, prepared cadets, and professional execution. It is the difference between checking a box and fulfilling a mission.

Rising towards excellence means refusing complacency, especially when no one is demanding more.

RISE Above the Fray

Conflict, stress, and complexity are inevitable in a volunteer organization with a broad mission and diverse membership. What defines us is how we respond.

RISE gives us a moment of reflection before action:

• Respect keeps us grounded in professionalism

• Integrity anchors us to what is right

• Service directs us outward

• Excellence lifts us higher than the minimum standard

When we apply RISE consistently, we rise above personal conflict, rise above organizational friction, and rise above the temptation to choose what is easiest instead of what is best.

Civil Air Patrol does not rise because of slogans alone. We rise because our members choose, day after day, to live our values in action.

As the Chaplain Corps, we lead and facilitate Character Development among our members, let us consider asking: “Am I choosing to RISE?”

Leadership At Its Best

By Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Jill J. Holm

Where are you headed in life? How are you going to get there? Do you desire to help your community, state, and nation but lack the leadership ability to go forward? Leadership is essential in our society; however, let us look at what leadership really is about.

Leadership is the ability to guide and inspire others towards a common goal. A leader is one who sets a vision, motivates their team, and makes decisions that benefit the group as a whole. It is something that people cannot achieve alone.

Effective leaders listen to others, communicate openly, and empower those around them. They lead by example, demonstrating integrity, empathy and resilience. Resilience is the ability to bounce back from setbacks, adapt to change, and remain calm under pressure, which helps maintain morale and keep the team moving forward during difficult times.

Leadership is not just about having authority; it’s about fostering collaboration and bringing out the best in people. It’s a dynamic skill that can be developed by anyone willing to learn and grow.

Some of the key aspects of leadership are:

1. Guidance and direction: leaders provide a clear vision and a path for their team to follow.

2. Motivation and inspiration: Leaders motivate people to put in extra effort and feel a sense of purpose in their work.

3. Decision-making: Leaders make decisions that are thoughtful, and sometimes difficult, for the benefit of the group.

4. Empowerment: They empower others by delegating responsibilities, recognizing their contributions, and helping them grow.

5. Adaptability: Leadership requires resilience and the ability to navigate challenges and change effectively.

6. Building relationships: Involves a focus on people, using empathy, and building trust.

Leadership is not management; it can be a role or title, but it is more accurately defined by actions and behaviors that influence others to achieve a shared objective, regardless of formal authority. Leadership is humility, not being authoritarian, and having a real concern for the people one leads. There is a sign at the Civil Air Patrol building at the Oshkosh Airport in Wisconsin that says: “If service is below you, leadership is beyond you.”

Spiritual Air Support Strengthens Resiliency Across Civil Air Patrol

By Chaplain (Maj.) Dovid Grossman

Command emphasis on spiritual support enhances readiness and cohesion.

Civil Air Patrol members operate in demanding environments where readiness, resilience, and teamwork are essential. Beyond physical preparedness and technical proficiency, resilience includes the ability to adapt, recover, and continue serving effectively under stress.

The Civil Air Patrol Spiritual Support Squadron exists to reinforce that dimension of readiness.

Spiritual support directly contributes to resilience. When members know they are not carrying burdens alone, they are better equipped to manage stress, uncertainty, and emotional fatigue. Prayer support provides a quiet but stabilizing force during prolonged operations, family challenges, medical concerns, or personal difficulties. It addresses the internal dimension that is often absent from traditional training environments.

A spiritually supported volunteer is more grounded, emotionally steady, and mission-focused. This translates into better decision-making, improves stress tolerance, and sustaines engagement over time. Resilient members remain effective longer and recover more quickly when challenges arise.

Spiritual support also strengthens unit cohesion. Cohesion is built on trust, shared purpose, and mutual care. The Spiritual Support Squadron fosters interconnectedness across ranks and duty positions. Members are reminded that they belong to something larger than themselves and that others are lifting them up in moments of need. Even when details remain confidential, the act of prayer becomes an expression of volunteer service and commitment to fellow members.

Command climate plays a critical role in shaping organizational culture. When leaders openly acknowledge spiritual resiliency resources, it reinforces that caring for members’ well-being supports mission readiness. Making members aware of available support, whether through a brief mention at commander’s call, inclusion in a newsletter, or reference during high-tempo operations, helps normalize resilience-building behaviors.

Civil Air Patrol succeeds when its people are supported, connected, and resilient. Spiritual support is one more way to strengthen the force behind the mission.

Flyers for distribution and unit sharing are available at the following links:

CAP Spiritual Support marketing flyer

CAP Spirtual Support flyer "You are not alone"

Members may request prayer by emailing:

[email protected]

Become a Spiritual Wingman:

Join the Civil Air Patrol Spiritual Support Squadron—a growing team dedicated to providing “spiritual air cover” across CAP and our military family. Become a spiritual wingman today.

Click here to register to become a spiritual wingman!

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