Chiefs Creed

Be it known to all who see these presents, that

[Inductee]

has been inducted into the membership of the Chief's Group upon elevation to the grade of Chief Master Sergeant in the United States Air Force. Implicit in individual membership in this select group is the creed that its members are individually to be regarded as people...

who cannot be bought;

whose word is their bond;

who put character above wealth;

who possess opinions and a will;

who are larger than their vocations;

who will not loose their individuality in a crowd;

who do not hesitate to take chances;

who will be as honest in small things as in great ones;

who will make no compromise with wrong;

whose ambitions are not confined to their own selfish desires and interests;

who will not say they do it "because everybody else does it";

who are true to their friends through good report and evil report, in adversity as well as prosperity;

who do not believe that shrewdness, cunning, and hardheadedness are the best qualities for winning success;

who are not ashamed or afraid to stand for the truth when it is unpopular, who can say "no" with emphasis, although all the world is saying "yes."

Chief's Induction Certificate

In the late 1950's, The United States Air Force introduced a new super enlisted grade to replace its warrant officers in the United States Air Force. This top enlisted grade came to be titled as "chief master sergeant."

The word chief means, "one who is highest in rank or authority." The word master means, "a teacher or mentor." The word sergeant means, " any of several ranks of noncommissioned officers, appointed to a rank conferring leadership."

In the 1970's, The United States Air Force chief master sergeants adopted the American Indian chief as their symbol. The Indian chief is the highest member of the tribe. The chief is also a teacher or mentor to the warriors of the tribe. The chief--an elder--was looked on for leadership.

The United States Air Force today only promotes one percent of its enlisted force to the rank of chief master sergeant. Today's chief must be a teacher and mentor, and is looked on for leadership of the enlisted force.

On this [day of induction], the president of the [ XXX ] Air Force Base Chiefs' Group has officially inducted this new chief master sergeant into our group.