MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- As Lt. Gen. Darren McDew, 18th Air Force commander, recently pointed out in his letter to the Mobility Air Forces, a lot may change in the future, but not the core values. Integrity, excellence and Service remain the foundation of U.S. Air Force.

I think that the 22nd Air Refueling Wing epitomizes the core value of Service.

A few examples include a KC-135 Stratotanker on station giving gas to an F-22 Raptor, B-2 Spirit or C-17 Globemaster III at the right place and time, a 22nd Force Support Squadron member making sure that the right meal gets to the right place at the right time, or a 22nd Security Forces Squadron member that makes sure the right people get on the base or to an aircraft at the right time and place.

The KC-135 community that we are all associated with is all about Service.

As a whole we are never the mission itself. We are always a necessary pillar that must be in place for the mission to succeed. The Air Force cannot be "Global" without the KC-135 mission. Let me repeat: there is no "Global" in the Air Force without us. No long range B-2 strikes, no persistent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, no humanitarian air drops without the tanker providing the range for these missions to happen anywhere anytime.

When you stop and think about it, I think it is extremely humbling to be a wing that is all about providing Service, a wing that puts the needs of others above our own, a wing that is always ready to go out and execute our mission so that others may succeed.