Ben D. Craver is the new Chaplain for the Thunderbird Squadron. He is Dean and Assistant Professor of Religion at Wayland Baptist University's Albuquerque campus. Chaplain Craver has been a pastor for more than 20 years and an educator for more than 10 years. A graduate of East Texas State University (B.B.A.), he holds both the M.Div. and Ph.D. degrees from Southwestern Seminary. He and his wife, Ginny, make their home in Ventana Ranch.
INTEGRITY—it is a word that we in CAP share with our USAF colleagues (theirs is “Integrity first”) as a core value. The word is loaded with meaning. A few examples I found were:
* The state or quality of being entire or complete; wholeness; entireness; unbroken state; as, the integrity of an empire or territory.
* Moral soundness; honesty; freedom from corrupting influence or motive; used especially with reference to the fulfillment of contracts, the discharge of agencies, trusts, and the like; uprightness; rectitude.
* Unimpaired, unadulterated, or genuine state; entire correspondence with an original condition; purity.
The American psychologist Erich Fromm stated: “Integrity simple means not violating one's own identity." Not too shabby; but, Fromm’s definition begs the question: “What is our identity as CAP members and cadets?” At least one part of who we are is our INTEGRITY.
Below is a commentary on INTEGRITY presented in the form of an acrostic written by Maj. Ronald Frantz, 76th Helicopter Squadron commander, Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA. I like it a lot! Hope you will, too.
* "I" stands for initiative. Take the initiative to do the right thing even when no one else will know.
* "N" stands for nurturing. Nurture others through the quality of your actions even when no one else will know.
* "T" stands for teamwork. Teamwork is service before self even when no one else will know.
* "E" stands for excellence. Excellence in all we do even when no one else will know.
* "G" stands for giving. Giving 110 percent even when no one else will know.
* "R" stands for respect. Respect each other even when no one else will know.
* "I" stands for intelligence. Be intelligent by knowing your job better than anyone, even when no one else will know.
* "T" stands for true. Be true to the best that's in you even when no one else will know.
* "Y" stands for you. You and I can make a difference even when no one else will know.
Let’s do our best to be men and women of integrity—at CAP meetings and exercises, on the job or at school, and at home—even when no one else knows.
Semper vigilans!
Chaplain Craver, SM CAP