Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      Senior Airman Brandon Daugherty, then-Master Sgt. Jeremy Hardy and Staff Sgt. Jason Blettenburg keep close watch during a combat rescue for an injured Afghan National Police soldier in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan Nov. 2007. (U.S. Air Force/Courtesy photo)130830-F-JH000-003
                        
                        
                        Senior Airman Brandon Daugherty, then-Master Sgt. Jeremy Hardy and Staff Sgt. Jason Blettenburg keep close watch during a combat rescue for an injured Afghan National Police soldier in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan Nov. 2007. (U.S. Air Force/Courtesy photo)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

The warrior within: Academy leader, pararescueman discusses the importance of cadets fostering a warrior ethosPublished Sept. 3, 2013
                    
                    By Amber Baillie
                    
                    
                    Academy Spirit staff writer
            **U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFNS) --**Being an Air Force warrior is second nature to Chief Master Sgt. Jeremy Hardy, the superintendent for the Commandant of Cadets here and a career pararescueman. 
In fact, Hardy has served for more than 20 years in combat search and rescue operations with a warrior spirit, surviving motorcycle and Humvee crashes, and risky parachute and scuba dives to reach wounded Airmen. He said he's watched allies, enemies and buddies perish in his arms.
After 28 years in the Air Force, Hardy is still passionate about instilling a sense of warrior ethos in Academy cadets -- future officers who will one day lead Airmen on the battlefield. 
"We are a nation at war," he said. "The Air Force mission is to fly, fight and win. Cadets need to remember they are members of the armed services and our mission is to take the fight to the enemy."
Hardy said to develop a warrior ethos, Airmen must execute a warrior pathos, meaning they have to talk like a warrior, act like a warrior and present themselves as a warrior.
"In doing so, they will adopt the ethos of a warrior," he said. "I think it takes years of dedicated service to this country to fully instill a warrior ethos. I can't tell you a specific moment when I developed a warrior ethos, but I will say I probably have it more engrained in my soul than most people because of my experiences."
Hardy was 14 years old when he decided to be a pararescue NCO. In 1983 while a part of a Civil Air Patrol program, Hardy attended a pararescue orientation camp where he said he met Tech. Sgt. Scotty Gearen, who deeply inspired him. Gearen was a part of the pararescue career field and had survived a 3,000 foot parachute fall. Hardy said from then on he knew Air Force pararescue was his calling. 
"It took me 28 years to become a chief, but I did it," he said. "When I joined this volunteer-only career field, I knew what I was getting into and that I was going to war."
Lt. Gen. David Goldfein, the Combined Forces Air Component commander stationed in Qatar, was one of the officers Hardy saved as a pararescueman. Goldfein is a Class of 1983 Academy graduate and presided over Hardy's chief master sergeant promotion ceremony. 
"There was a team of dedicated, enlisted officers who lived by that warrior ethos, came together in the worst case scenario, went into really hostile territory and pulled Goldfein out when he was shot down," Hardy said. "All three co-pilots on the team were lieutenants. They had a warrior ethos, were trained and went in and saved Goldfein's life. To cadets who say, 'I'm just a lieutenant,' that's not true -- they're a warrior and an Airman. I think that's a powerful message all cadets here need to understand."
Hardy has deployed around the world and lost 23 friends during his pararescue career. 
"Some of those men did not have to die," he said. "They died because of a lack of leadership and I attribute that to a lack of how they were trained as young officers. What better way to affect that change than to help General Lengyel, the Academy's commandant of cadets, with his vision to re-instill the warrior ethos in these cadets and remind them the day they raised their hands they became Airmen?"
There isn't a specific definition of warrior ethos other than complete and total readiness to act, Hardy said.
"The core values at the Academy are unequivocally the foundation of a warrior ethos," he said. "You add to that, love for your brothers and sisters in arms and the desire to volunteer for anything because it's the right thing to do. We call it 'mission hacking' in my community. You say, 'I want the next mission so please send me on the next mission.' I think humility is a huge aspect of the warrior ethos."
Cadets should be reminded of warrior ethos in phases, in the same way leaders introduce cadets to the use of arms during basic cadet training, Hardy said. 
"Academy staff can assist with the concept by maintaining their warrior pathos," he said. "If you take a look at my office, it's a museum of war paraphernalia including helmets and shell casings. When a cadet or young staff member walks in, it's a visual reminder that this war isn't over."
The novel "Gates of Fire," by Steven Pressfield, recounting the Battle of Thermopylae, and the movie "300," are great representations of the warrior ethos concept, Hardy said.
"They encapsulate the warrior ethos in regards to the mission coming first and that small numbers can defeat large numbers based on hard determination and drive," he said. "Here at the Academy, cadets need to understand that upon their commissioning, their job will be to be lead Airmen on the battlefield. We're in an irregular war that isn't going to end any time soon. We must go into battle shoulder to shoulder, put our shields up, grip our spears and be ready to attack together as a team. That mentality transcends all aspects of our life."warrior 



ethos 



pararescueman Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                SecAF Kendall visits Bangor ANG Base
                    
                    Vice President Harris congratulates USAFA Class of ‘24
                    
                    Senate confirms Melissa Dalton as next Under Secretary of the Air Force
                    
                    ‘One Team, One Fight’: SecAF visits Keesler AFB
                    
                    SecAF Kendall experiences VISTA of future flight test at Edwards AFBInnovation
                AFSFC reaches final phase of fielding Model Defender gear
                    
                    Around the Air Force: PCS Allowances, Air Task Forces, All-Volunteer Force
                    
                    AFIMSC focuses I-WEPTAC topics on GPC solutions
                    
                    Optimizing AI, Air University hosts Artificial Intelligence Symposium
                    
                    AFIMSC tools deliver data-driven solutions across DAFMAJCOM News
                AFMC to expand AcqDemo workforce
                    
                    AFMC empowers small businesses for Air Force reoptimization
                    
                    Acquisition Instructor Course Class 25A open for nominations
                    
                    Air Guard leaders host 2024 Wing Leader Conference
                    
                    Referral bonuses aim to help fill mission-critical vacancies
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil